The Bane of Our Lives

Justifying Rates: Media Manager's Worst Nightmare


  • According to a recent News Item that a friend of DET/CHE emailed to our President's office, "Justifying rates is the bane of a media manager's existence. While some consider the annual task to be a major component of their job security, most of us consider it to be that painful time of year when statistics are gathered, formulas are refined, and priorities are reassessed."

  • The report went on to reveal that "[T]estifying before an Income and Recharge Committee can be as much fun as being the subject of an Inquisition. For those of you who have the periodic opportunity to be flame broiled, undoubtedly you have discovered the ever popular "productive unbillable time" whereby up to 40% of your staff's working hours is justified as being entirely productive yet unbillable -- overhead without the fat, so to speak. Time spent researching equipment, learning a new software program, and giving tours to VIPs all fall under the umbrella of "productive unbillable time (PUT)."

  • Now here's the important point: "MUTs are very similar to PUTs, only different. For those of you with a burning desire to know the technical distinctions, MUTs are listed below:"


  • "Miscellaneous Unproductive Time"

    Notice to All Employees:

    It has come to our attention recently that many of you have been turning in timesheets that specify large amounts of "Miscellaneous Unproductive Time" (code 5309). To our department, unproductive time isn't a problem. What is a problem, however, is not knowing exactly what you are doing during your unproductive time.

    Attached below is a sheet specifying a tentative extended job code list based on our observations of employee activities. The list will allow you to specify with a fair amount of precision what you are doing during your unproductive time. Please begin using this job code list immediately and let us know about any difficulties you encounter.

    Thank you.

    The Management

    Attached: Extended Job Code List

    
    Code number   Explanation
     ----------    -----------
    5316     Meeting
    5317     Obstructing Communications at Meeting
    5318     Trying to Sound Knowledgeable While in Meeting
    5319     Waiting for Break
    5320     Waiting for Lunch
    5321     Waiting for End of Day
    5322     Vicious Verbal Attacks Directed at Coworker
    5323     Vicious Verbal Attacks Directed at Coworker While Coworker
                 is not Present
    5393     Covering for Incompetence of Coworker Friend
    5400     Trying to Explain Concept to Coworker Who is not Interested
                 in Learning
    5401     Trying to Explain Concept to Coworker Who is Stupid
    5402     Trying to Explain Concept to Coworker Who Hates You
    5481     Buying Snack
    5482     Eating Snack
    5500     Filling Out Timesheet
    5501     Inventing Timesheet Entries
    5502     Waiting for Something to Happen
    5503     Scratching Yourself
    5504     Sleeping
    5510     Feeling Bored
    5511     Feeling Horny
    5600     Bitching About Lousy Job
    5601     Bitching About Low Pay
    5602     Bitching About Long Hours
    5603     Bitching About Coworker (see codes #5322, #5323)
    5604     Bitching About Boss
    5605     Bitching About Personal Problems
    5640     Miscellaneous Unproductive Bitching
    5701     Not Actually Present At Job
    5702     Suffering From Eight-Hour Flu
    6102     Ordering Out
    6103     Waiting for Food Delivery to Arrive
    6104     Taking it Easy While Digesting Food
    6200     Using Company Resources for Personal Profit
    6201     Stealing Company Goods
    6202     Making Excuses after Accidentally Destroying Company
                 Goods
    6203     Using Company Phone to Make Long-Distance Personal
                 Calls
    6204     Using Company Phone to Make Long-Distance Personal
                 Calls to Fence in Order to Sell Stolen Company Goods
    6206     Gossip
    6207     Planning a Social Event (e.g., vacation, wedding...)
    6210     Feeling Sorry For Yourself
    6221     Pretending to Work While Boss Is Watching
    6222     Pretending to Enjoy Your Job
    6223     Pretending You Like Coworker
    6224     Pretending You Like Important People When in Reality
                 They are Jerks
    6238     Miscellaneous Unproductive Fantasizing
    6350     Playing Pranks on the New Guy/Girl
    6601     Running your own Business on Company Time 
                 (see code #6603)
    6602     Complaining
    6603     Writing a Book on Company Time
    6611     Staring Into Space
    6612     Staring At Computer Screen
    6615     Transcendental Meditation
    7281     Extended Visit to the Bathroom (at least 10 minutes)
    7400     Talking With Divorce Lawyer on Phone
    7401     Talking With Plumber on Phone
    7402     Talking With Dentist on Phone
    7403     Talking With Doctor on Phone
    7404     Talking With Masseuse on Phone
    7405     Talking With House Painter on Phone
    7406     Talking With Personal Therapist on Phone
    7419     Talking With Miscellaneous Paid Professional on Phone
    7425     Talking With Mistress/Boy-Toy on Phone
    7931     Asking Coworker to Aid You in an Illicit Activity
    8000     Recreational Drug Use



    Updated * June 19, 1966
    romanelli@id.ucsb.edu