This is why i love my current employer and i won't leave unless i'm forced to.
We have a policy of "Chargeable work always comes first but if you've got nothing to do go learn something, we'll call you when something comes in"
This has lead to times before where we go dead around the same time every year and you spend 2 months being paid to independently upskill. Come the busy November-February period its really obvious who spent their time wisely and who goofed off.
I wish that was ever the case with me! One of the downsides of being part of a very small team.. there is always too much to do. But it is important to take advantage of any times where it's a little less crazy than others to continue to learn new stuff.
I think its the benefits of my sector and my teams place within it. 90% of sales get made in w46-w52 and then my team and first in a long chain to action after a deal is signed.
This means by July/August its a mad scrap to find work.
I've been lucky enough to work in two, maybe three, places with implicit or explicit policies like this. It's something I shop for now when job-hunting.
We have a policy of "Chargeable work always comes first but if you've got nothing to do go learn something, we'll call you when something comes in"
This has lead to times before where we go dead around the same time every year and you spend 2 months being paid to independently upskill. Come the busy November-February period its really obvious who spent their time wisely and who goofed off.