Shut Up & Read discussion

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message 1: by MeMe Belikova (new)

MeMe Belikova First lady Ivashkov (alicebelikovreads) | 949 comments Does anyone have a job where it's okay to read on the clock?


message 2: by Rebecca (new)

Rebecca (allyria) I did when I was younger. I worked in a call center. On days when it was slow we were encouraged to do things at our desks that kept us awake and quiet and in our chairs. I either read or colored.


message 3: by Rebecka (new)

Rebecka Well, I don't know that it's 'okay' but I'm the only person working a graveyard shift so as soon as my work is done I'm usually reading to keep myself awake.


message 4: by Michael (new)

Michael Cargill (michaelcargill) Oh, that type of job.

I thought you meant the toilet.


message 5: by Lys (new)

Lys (lysrowan) I work at a library part-time during the school year. As long as I keep a peripheral eye on students who might need help I am allowed to read, do homework or play on the computer. Usually I read.


message 6: by Christie (new)

Christie Rich | 335 comments Michael wrote: "Oh, that type of job.

I thought you meant the toilet."


LOL, Michael!!!!


message 7: by Michael (new)

Michael Cargill (michaelcargill) Well, I'm glad at least one person found my puerile joke amusing...!


message 8: by Shay (new)

Shay (icylilies) | 49 comments I read during my lunch break sometimes :)


message 9: by Elle (new)

Elle (louiselesley) I'm technically not 'allowed' but I'm working this summer as an intern and if I don't have enough work, I can do what I please.


message 10: by MeMe Belikova (new)

MeMe Belikova First lady Ivashkov (alicebelikovreads) | 949 comments That's cool! I work at a gift shop in a hospital so I rarely have any work to do at all and I am allowed to read as much as I want unless I have work to do(which my boss tries to find me stuff to do most of the time). I really like my job but I do get lonely at times so my books keep me company :)


message 11: by Michael (new)

Michael Cargill (michaelcargill) Actually, I used to work in a jigsaw shop many years ago.

For 95% of the day, it was completely dead, which was great for reading.

Unsurprisingly, it shut down less than a year later.


Tammy ~Witching Hour Reads~ (03tammy-lynn) | 1434 comments I was not told by my boss that I could not read while I was at work, that being said if I had all my work done (even before, if it was a good book) I would read before closing.


message 13: by Ashley (new)

Ashley Brown (asarabaenre) In my job, most of my work requires a lot of file organizing and stuff like that, so it requires the use of my hands but not so much that of my brain. Therefore I cannot HOLD a book, but I can very well listen to an audiobook, or have my e-reader beside me with a poke of the page turning button every once in a while. That's usually how my days go. I'm actually more productive while doing so.


message 14: by Linda (new)

Linda Being a teacher I don't have much time for reading at work, but I've become quite an expert at hiding my kindle inside my notebook during staff meetings. I try to grab a corner away from the principals eyes, and then I can listen to the interesting stuff, and read through the rest.:)


message 15: by [deleted user] (new)

I work in retail, I wish I could read on slow days. There's only so much straightening that can be done.


message 16: by Joke (new)

Joke (yuccah) | 23 comments technically no..but during the holidays it slows down here at work ..so yeah then i read during working hours


message 17: by Liesel (new)

Liesel Hill (lkhill) I can read during down time at my job, but it's not official. It's just because I work in a deli that's fast going down the drain. Our building is empty and we have no business! Because of that, my boss is cool if I pull out my phone and read from my kindle app, so long as don't neglect any of the customers who happen to mosey in. :D


message 18: by MeMe Belikova (new)

MeMe Belikova First lady Ivashkov (alicebelikovreads) | 949 comments Erica wrote: "I work in retail, I wish I could read on slow days. There's only so much straightening that can be done."

I work in the same field also, luckily I can read on the job because like you said there is only so much you can do and then it's crickets after that.


message 19: by H.L. (new)

H.L. Wampler (hlwampler) | 17 comments I'm a HUC (Health Unit Coordinator) at a hospital and when I'm not busy I read and I write. I wrote most of Red's Hood while I was working.

There are times when I have absolutely nothing to do, and instead of twiddling my thumbs waiting I either pull out my Kindle or I just walk up and down the halls to keep my butt from falling asleep. lol


message 20: by L.E. (new)

L.E. Fitzpatrick (l_e_fitzpatrick) I have a very busy job running an office, but I volunteer at a stately home for the National Trust on Sundays, mainly so I can sit in the library and scowl at the visitors who dare interrupt my chapter.


message 21: by Sheri, Bookworm (new)

Sheri | 13547 comments Mod
I'm self-employed and work from home so I have to try to make myself stay focused on my work during the day. If I take a break and pull out my Kindle, I usually won't stop after one chapter!


message 22: by Clare (new)

Clare dooley (claredooley) I work tattoo conventions, Anime, Comic, Steampunk, & Gaming cons so when it's not a madhouse yes I can read. It actually starts conversations that can lead to sales!


message 23: by Mary (new)

Mary Wilson | 1 comments If my work is done and there arent any customers to take care of I can read. Its the main reason I like the job. I would go crazy from boredom other wise.


message 24: by Tanecia (new)

Tanecia  (books101) | 3773 comments Mod
Unfortunately I can't read at my job...we are always on our feet and helping customers that we stay busy. The only time I'm allowed to read is on my lunch lol.


message 25: by Meg (new)

Meg (megtheneedlefinder) | 5 comments I used to work in retail and on slow days would put my book in the drawer and stand there reading that way, it was easy to just close the drawer as soon as someone came in - people outside the shop looking must have wondered what the hell I was looking at!


message 26: by Michelle (new)

Michelle Scott (michellescottfiction) I am an English teacher who teaches independent study, so basically, I sit in my office and wait for students to show up. I *definitely* read during these times. In fact, it helps me bond with students because we can compare books, lol.


message 27: by Mary (new)

Mary Fields (mary0038) | 9 comments I work at a shirt printing place doing Emb. And seeing that my nook goes everywhere i do when i have orders that take awhile to sew i read or check up on goodreads...like im doing now lol im sooooo at work


message 28: by Santana (last edited Jan 09, 2013 11:18PM) (new)

Santana I wish Im a cashier so I never have time to read but I would love to have a job where I could.


message 29: by Shahbaz (new)

Shahbaz (abelisii) | 163 comments I read every night at work. Graveyard shift at a quite place...just glance at the monitor a few times, make a few rounds and back to reading.

Although im not suppose to be on the internet...like I am now...oops


message 30: by T.A. (new)

T.A. White I wasn't supposed to but when there was nothing to do, yes. One week there was so little to work on I finished 4 books


message 31: by L.W. (last edited Jan 31, 2013 02:01PM) (new)

L.W. Patricks | 27 comments Boy do I have a cautionary tale.... Back when I was still a junior at my firm, I recalled getting into A Game of Thrones and had three chapters left of the book. I was so into it that I decided to go into the bathroom stall and hide in there while finishing off the book.

So there I was, for a good twenty minutes, eyes glued to the pages of the book, ignoring the sounds of people entering and leaving the washroom. When I finally decided to look up, I realized that the stall door was wide open.

I can only imagine how many people walked in, seeing me sitting on the toilet, pants fully on, focused on

A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire, #1) by George R.R. Martin

I've learned to be more professional since and read during my lunchtime....and to also check that the stall doors lock properly when I use the can...


message 32: by Brandy (new)

Brandy I usually have a book open on my desk and read it in chucks while I wait for reports to print or while I'm on hold. I can usually get through two hundred or so pages in a day if I include what I read during my lunch break.


message 33: by Alexandra (new)

Alexandra (bloocheese) | 9 comments I don`t work unless you consider sitting in front of a computer willing myself to write and failing miserably a fulltime writing job....but I do read books everywhere and when I was working, there was no problem. If we weren't really busy and I had done everything that could be done my manager didn't mind. Or I would just read on my break bc no one could tell me what to do on my pause.


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