'Fauxductivity': the art of pretending to be productive at work

Some workers feign productivity by using all kinds of tricks to appear as if they're putting their heart and soul into their jobs. Image: Shutterstock

Despite an undeniable evolution in business culture, companies continue to buy into the cult of productivity. Some go to great lengths to check that their employees are working as they should be. But it's not always easy to spot the slackers, as they are masters in the art of looking super-productive, without necessarily being so.

The rise of remote working has brought flexibility to employees' daily lives. It's now easier for them to take time out of their working day to do laundry, pick up a parcel or attend a medical appointment. In return, it's usually tacitly understood that workers might start work earlier or finish later, depending on their availability and wishes. Of course, some people take advantage of the situation and take long breaks, guilt-free.

However, most employees are honest about the way they go about their work, whether they're working from home or in the office. Sixty-seven percent of those surveyed by Workhuman* say they do their work and don't fake activity. The problem is that their superiors remain suspicious of them. Forty-eight percent of managers surveyed are convinced that some members of their team are just pretending to work.

The Workhuman agency describes this phenomenon as “fauxductivity" (faux-productivity). These falsely productive employees are masters of making it look as if they're devoting themselves wholeheartedly to their jobs. They show up very early in the morning -- and let it be known by sending a quick “hello” to their colleagues -- they pop up in group email chains, or speak up once or twice during a video meeting before discreetly turning off their camera and microphone, hoping that no one will bother them afterwards. When they're in the office, they like to pace noisily around, complaining to whoever will listen that they're swamped with work.