Slacking Issue IV: The Victory Lap

Many of the "tips" I have for slacking are determined on your work place and the environment you work in.  I would say that most places have a certain degree of tolerance that they will tolerate certain activities and that is really where most of my "tales" come from...instances where a person was allowed to get away with "slacking" but it wouldn't be seen as that way.  This next example I first observed while working a crappy retail job but also have seen it employed in an office setting as well and that is what I like to call "The Victory Lap" and while, again, appearing to be working you are essentially getting away with slacking.

I first learned of this maneuver, as I mentioned, working a retail job and anyone that has worked a retail job knows that it sucks.  Oh sure you probably know or have met someone that really loves working some retail job but the truth is, unless you own the place or are getting paid a shit-ton of money (which you won't be), working a retail job sucks.  So at this one store, like most other retail stores, weekends were our busiest...during the week it was easy to slack off and not do much but during the weekend there were PIC's (person in charge - glorified manager wanna-bee) that would constantly be hovering over us peons ... making sure we were keeping on task at all times.  It seemed like an endless 8 hour grind.  Then I began to take note of Bob, he had worked there for a couple of years and I seemed to notice, especially during our busy times, that Bob would only be around some of the time.  Well, how could Bob get away from the PIC that was hovering over all of us, all of the time?  But then I noticed his trick...he would help a customer with their purchases and even go the extra mile and help them to their car, the door, however far that customer would want his assistance but once he completed that transaction he would proceed to walk around the entire store and essentially "check in" with everyone.  After the customer would leave Bob would leisurely saunter into the next department greet the manager there and then keep on walking until he had completed an entire "lap" of the store...and in no hurry now mind you.  And of course while you are doing a victory lap you might as well stop for a bathroom break as needed as well.  Of course the victory lap is best deployed if you work at a reasonably sized store where your "lap" would be sure to consume enough time to make it "slack worthy".

The victory lap used in an office setting can be a little tricky, especially if your boss seems to think you are just "standing around" talking to your coworkers.  So what I recommend is befriending other coworkers in other departments or areas of your work place...hopefully as far away from your overseers as you can.  So if/when you decide you would like to take a "victory lap" after completing some task you would leave your general work area and just walk to the other department's and areas in your work place.  Many of your coworkers will be more than willing to talk about the weather, sports or politics at the drop of a hat versus work so you may likely have an extended victory lap if you find two, three people to even have a 5-10 minute conversation each.

As an added bonus to the victory lap you can gain some 'brownie' points by noting anything the work place may be suffering from.  So when you complete your victory lap and your manager/coworkers come to you and may want to know what's going on or what you have been up too... "Well," you say, "as I was heading down the stairs I noticed this railing was coming off and wanted to let Ralph now but then he was busy trying to fix the clayiode system that crashed so I talked to Mike but he couldn't find the right tool.  So I am going to try and hook up with them in about 45 and help them finish that up if that is alright?"

How could a boss say no to that?  I mean look how busy you are!