28% of U.S. Employees Fake Busyness at Work: How to Combat Productivity Theater
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A recent survey by Visier has revealed that 28% of U.S. employees engage in "productivity theater," where they perform actions to appear busy rather than focusing on meaningful work. This phenomenon, also known as performative work, significantly impacts productivity and efficiency in the workplace, especially in remote settings.
The Findings
The survey highlights several common behaviors associated with productivity theater:
- Keeping a laptop screen awake while not working (28%)
- Scheduling emails or messages to be delivered at a future time (36%)
- Attending unnecessary meetings (36%)
These activities are often driven by the need to appear valuable to managers and peers, with 64% of employees stating that such behaviors are essential for their professional success. Interestingly, employee surveillance tools exacerbate this issue, leading to a higher incidence of performative behaviors among monitored employees (Visier) (American Psychological Association).
The Impact
The impact of productivity theater is profound. Employees spend significant portions of their workweek on tasks designed to create an illusion of busyness rather than contributing to actual productivity. This wastes time and fosters a culture of mistrust and inefficiency, particularly in remote teams where visibility is already a challenge.
Addressing the Issue
To combat productivity theater, organizations need to implement strategies that promote genuine productivity and reduce the emphasis on mere appearance:
- Encourage Meaningful Work: Shift the focus from quantity to quality. Emphasize the importance of completing tasks that add real value to the organization.
- Streamline Meetings: Reduce the number of unnecessary meetings. Ensure that meetings are purposeful, with clear agendas and outcomes.
- Promote Transparency: Foster an open culture where employees feel comfortable discussing their workload and productivity without fear of judgment or surveillance.
- Implement Effective Management Practices: Managers should prioritize regular, meaningful check-ins with their teams to discuss progress and obstacles rather than relying on superficial productivity indicators.
- Utilize Technology Wisely: Use productivity tools to aid work rather than to monitor employees. Tools should facilitate work, not create additional pressure to appear busy.
By addressing these issues, small entrepreneurial companies can enhance efficiency, trust, and overall workplace satisfaction, ultimately leading to better business outcomes.
For more detailed insights, refer to Visier's original survey on productivity theater and the APA's research on workplace mental health challenges (Visier) (American Psychological Association).
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Engagement Manager, Best Practice Institute and Most Loved Workplace. Helping companies place love of employees at the center of their business strategy.
2wThese data and conclusions are summarized pretty well by: DON'T MICROMANAGE! Give team members the training, tools, and motivation they need to get the job done, and then give them your trust that they'll do so. In return, they'll give you their best work and more loyalty