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...I'm just getting stressed because I'm basically being told that if I can't account for all my hours, maybe my position isn't needed.

Only one person has stated it pretty much like that (she said "if there's no documentation, there's no justification for the position", among other things), but it still makes me nervous. What she doesn't get is that saying that doesn't make me want to work harder - it makes me want to find another job. There are always lulls in a work day, or chats around the water cooler with folks - who are generally clients. You can't account for every five minute interval...*sigh*

And I'm still frustrated on account of my boss isn't a natural born trainer, by any means, and we do more going around in circles than actually getting stuff clarified. So I still feel stupid and useless, even this late in the game.

< /rant>

... My only comfort sitting through that was knowing my resume is out and that I'm applying for jobs. It's nice to hold on to the thought that I'm not sooooooo desperate I have to continue to put up with this nonsense year in and year out. The two blankety-blanks complained that people were "walking on eggshells" around me - which could mean anything. It could mean, that they, the managers, noticed I was stressed, or that my colleagues noticed I was stressed, or it could mean that someone was *complaining* about something which they, the managers, couldn't come out and say. So that makes me angry.

Thing is, they've put me in charge of several major efforts - all of which hit peak work levels during the Oct-Dec time frame. Now, being the organized person that I am, I figured this out last February and outlined to Manager 1 what help I needed and when and how it would save the schedules later on. No help materialized. I pushed the topic again in May when it was clear I was falling behind. The answer was, get this, "No, we don't want someone else to do all the work and you take all the credit." What the heck? I was/am so insulted by that. Even if it were true, it's a completely rude thing to say. So July, August, and September devolved into weekly gripe sessions with Manager 1 about how something has to give. Either move something off my plate or everything falls apart. "No, no, you're doing fine! Just fine!"

Well everything fell apart right before Christmas. Suddenly, the clouds parted. Light shone down. Choirs of angels sang. And management realized we had a crisis on our hands. Super senior management was noticing stuff wasn't getting done. "Get it done or you'll have to sit in Chief Muckety'muck's office and explain why you missed your suspenses." That's a threat? thought I. That's an opportunity! Well it didn't come to that because I worked 11-hour days and gave up nearly all of my holiday leave... and got the blasted projects done. I wasn't real happy. I snapped at manager 1 a few times and didn't apologize (blame the inner Chloe). "We're getting you help. We're getting you help!," he says. "Why bother now? This is only a crisis because you refused me the help back in February when it would have done some good." I was a bit saucy with that but proud that I was quick enough to think of it and say it out loud. Manager 2's position... the "boss"? She says she wasn't aware of any of this, that I hadn't communicated it.

All my fault. Yup.

So today I was counseled about my attitude.

You know ...

That watercooler time you spend schmoozing the customer is documentable, and possibly billable.

For example: you walk into the customer's office at 9am and spend 30mins setting up their new network printer. Obviously, that's 30mins of billable time.

But if you spend another 10mins talking to the customer about hooking up an iPod to their ratty old home system, that's documentable --- you've spent 10mins chasing a new prospect. And if you're talking about upgrading that ratty old desktop on the receptionist's desk, that's definitely billable.

How do you document your time now? Is there a way to document sales pitches?