IT Guy Gets Paid 90K For A Job That He Does For Only 10 Minutes After Writing A Script That Automated His Entire Work

Modern problems require modern solutions, and this is taking the concept to entirely new, epic levels.

One IT worker found a way to turn a full-time job into a 10-minute routine, and Reddit could not get enough of it. The post came from r/antiwork, where a user described how he automated nearly everything he was supposed to do at a mid-sized law firm. That setup sounded manageable at first, but he soon realized the job barely filled any of his day, so he built a script to handle the repetitive work for him.

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Now the post has blown up, and the comments are split between admiration, disbelief, and a little envy. Read on.

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Then the pandemic hit.

They asked if it was possible for OP to securely work from home. OP agreed and set up his remote workstation at home, and that's when he began tinkering with a script to automate his work.

In about a week, OP wrote, debugged, and perfected a script that performed all of his tasks for him. According to OP, the script did the following:

"It essentially scans the on-site drive for any new files, generates hash values for them, transfers them to the cloud, then generates hash values again for fidelity (in court, you have to prove that digital evidence hasn't been tampered with)."

This is how OP's workday looks — he clocks in for his 8-hour shift, then plays video games or does whatever he wants. At the end of the day, he checks if everything ran smoothly and then clocks out. He's only actively at the desk for about 10 minutes, and he's been doing this for a year.

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OP makes $90k a year.

Then the pandemic hit.Throwaway59724
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He shared that he felt guilty for a while for making his job easier.

At first, he felt as if he was ripping off the law firm. But after a while, he realized that as long as everyone was happy with the quality of his work, there was truly no harm done.

OP is doing what he's hired to do; he completes the job in a timely manner, and he gets to enjoy his life. According to OP, he is also running the script using his own device, and if the firm decides to fire him, he will also get rid of the script.

This secures his job; if they fire him, they lose the script and the job it automates. OP's full post can be read below.

He shared that he felt guilty for a while for making his job easier.Throwaway59724 Man at a laptop during pandemic, reflecting on automating IT workThrowaway59724 Screenshot-style post showing added details, Reddit thread responses about automated legal tasksThrowaway59724 Computer screen with code editor, illustrating efficient automation of tedious law firm workThrowaway59724

OP posted additional information for all the questions he was receiving

OP posted additional information for all the questions he was receivingThrowaway59724

OP made a tedious task that the law firm was struggling with much more efficient

OP made a tedious task that the law firm was struggling with much more efficientThrowaway59724

To be clear, OP is not a lazy person; imagine doing this while working in a law firm.

To be clear, OP is not a lazy person; imagine doing this while working in a law firm.Throwaway59724

For those interested, here are the basics of what OP did. Nothing too specific.

For those interested, here are the basics of what OP did. Nothing too specific.Throwaway59724

OP said his code is worth nothing in other situations. It's only valuable specific to his job.

OP said his code is worth nothing in other situations. It's only valuable specific to his job.Throwaway59724

Another edit for clarification

Another edit for clarificationThrowaway59724 Developer reviewing code comments, discussing niche expertise and risks of publicationThrowaway59724

This reminds me of the lunch-stealing coworker he confronted at work.

OP made it sound easy, but he's only able to find a "shortcut" to his job because of his expertise in his field.

OP made it sound easy, but he's only able to find a "shortcut" to his job because of his expertise in his field.Throwaway59724

As for the risk of being featured in a publication, OP is not worried.

As for the risk of being featured in a publication, OP is not worried.Throwaway59724

This is the way

This is the wayBlobTheBuilderz

A lawyer tried to ease OP's guilt by saying this:

A lawyer tried to ease OP's guilt by saying this:Maluja Law professional discussing reassurances, text overlay about job description excellenceMaluja IT worker reframing mindset, emphasizing expertise and value to employersMaluja

Technically, OP is doing everything in his job description excellently.

Technically, OP is doing everything in his job description excellently.precsenz

OP needs to reframe his thinking because they are paying for his expertise.

OP needs to reframe his thinking because they are paying for his expertise.Barbed_Dildo

Our hero is very candid about his hard work.

Our hero is very candid about his hard work.Throwaway59724

The comment below hit the nail right on the head.

The comment below hit the nail right on the head.Atxfuntime4444

OP is paid the big bucks because he is the only one who can do what he does and with such finesse.

OP is paid the big bucks because he is the only one who can do what he does and with such finesse.Wrecksomething Reddit comment highlighting high pay for specialized skills, people asking for the methodWrecksomething

It's capitalism's fault that people are expected to work this much.

It's capitalism's fault that people are expected to work this much.Wrecksomething

Other Redditors wanted in on OP's secret recipe.

Other Redditors wanted in on OP's secret recipe.PresidentsBlack

While others are already doing it or about to do it in their own jobs. Honestly, good for you!

While others are already doing it or about to do it in their own jobs. Honestly, good for you!GingerGiantz1992

This is what technology was supposed to accomplish.

This is what technology was supposed to accomplish.mustsurvivecapitlism

I think we all are.

I think we all are.From_Adam

If you're highly skilled and can make your work more efficient, then that's to your benefit.

If you're highly skilled and can make your work more efficient, then that's to your benefit. februarytide-

We're all proud and a little envious of OP for having the know-how to do this. OP made it sound so easy, but unless you have the intelligence or experience, it's not so easy to recognize what can be done better to make your job easier.

Aside from all that, hats off to OP and to other professionals who are outsmarting their jobs. "Work smart, not hard" has never been this relevant or true.

Wild, right? See why a coworker demanded his custom tool without paying.

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