Zero work to do on contract (confused!)

[Old Greg]

I do actually do freelance writing for others, but I have to do this in my own time or when I'm WFH and can use my own laptop. They won't agree more than Mondays WFH, and can't use the provided laptop Tues-Fri in their office for anything other than the [no] work I do for them.

You need to think creatively here. Can you do interviews Tuesday to Friday? Can you handwrite articles then type them up on the train? Or dictate them and use something like otter.ai voice recognition. Or bring a mini laptop, or a keyboard for your phone? There must be a way of doing paid free-lance work in your client's time.

[Bettz]

You need to think creatively here. Can you do interviews Tuesday to Friday? Can you handwrite articles then type them up on the train? Or dictate them and use something like otter.ai voice recognition. Or bring a mini laptop, or a keyboard for your phone? There must be a way of doing paid free-lance work in your client's time.

There must be, Old Greg. But until this morning I have been riddled with guilt about doing anything other than what they're asking me - which for the most part is nothing. If I can find a way to WFH more often, then problem solved.

[Old Greg]

There must be, Old Greg. But until this morning I have been riddled with guilt about doing anything other than what they're asking me - which for the most part is nothing. If I can find a way to WFH more often, then problem solved.

No need to feel guilty. They are paying you to be present and available. I bet they won't let you increase WFH days.
The problem is that you have nothing to fill your day. See this as an opportunity and fill your days with paid freelance work.

[b0redom]

I do actually do freelance writing for others, but I have to do this in my own time or when I'm WFH and can use my own laptop. They won't agree more than Mondays WFH, and can't use the provided laptop Tues-Fri in their office for anything other than the [no] work I do for them.

Don't have Internet access? Google Docs is pretty impressive, and nothing would be stored on their kit.

[Bettz]

Don't have Internet access? Google Docs is pretty impressive, and nothing would be stored on their kit.

I use Google Docs all the time for my freelance writing. How would my internet access not be seen by those that be?

[northernladuk]

There must be, Old Greg. But until this morning I have been riddled with guilt about doing anything other than what they're asking me - which for the most part is nothing. If I can find a way to WFH more often, then problem solved.

Psychocandy has made a career out of this.

[DaveB]

I use Google Docs all the time for my freelance writing. How would my internet access not be seen by those that be?

Generally speaking, unless you are trying to access porn or other objectionable sites, internet use wont be monitored. No-one has the time to keep tabs who is reading which web pages or which sites staff are visiting, especially in large companies.

Webmail services like GMail tend to be blocked to stop you making off with company secrets via personal email accounts but Google Docs is often overlooked or actively permitted anyway. Even if you try and connect and it gets blocked, one blocked attempt is not going to start alarm bells ringing anywhere outside of a properly secure HMG/MoD/ListX site.

[Lance]

There must be, Old Greg. But until this morning I have been riddled with guilt about doing anything other than what they're asking me - which for the most part is nothing. If I can find a way to WFH more often, then problem solved.

Just tell them you’ll be working from home. Not being allowed sounds like D&C anyway so make sure you’re in control not the client.

[WordIsBond]

As suggested, try Google Docs. If that doesn't work, try Wordpress. Last I knew you could set up a private blog, so only those with a password can see it. I really doubt they have Wordpress blocked, how will people read blogs on work time?

You could write in Word, then log in to Wordpress a couple times a day and copy your stuff into your private blog.

At the very least, you can scribble ideas on a piece of paper and stuff it in your pants to smuggle it out.

Keep invoicing, look for something better if you really can't stand it, keep invoicing, and keep your chin up! Oh, and keep invoicing.

[Bettz]

Just tell them you’ll be working from home. Not being allowed sounds like D&C anyway so make sure you’re in control not the client.

What is D&C?