"Picture this: You just wrapped up a longer-than-ever task, so for a few minutes, you kick your feet up, take a quick breather, and doodle on your notebook at your desk. Someone walks by and jokes, “Working hard or hardly working?” You laugh, take another few seconds to yourself, and get back to your to-do list. The question is rhetorical—you are working. The lighthearted joke about “working hard or hardly working” has taken on a whole new meaning since in-office workers started task masking, though, giving employers a reason to wonder what you’re really doing all day.
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Employees (who didn’t already revenge quit as a response to RTO mandates) are reportedly “task masking” now that they are back in the office. If you’re one of them, we get it—you’re mad! But this new trend isn’t making your life any easier or doing the future of your career any favors. Ahead, we’re breaking down the details of task masking, including what to do when you feel like it’s your only option.
What is task masking?
Task masking, as Deepali Vyas from Elite Recruiter explains in a recent TikTok video, is essentially “the art of looking busy” when you’re actually not doing anything at all. Basically, it involves creating the illusion of productivity by doing things like typing loudly, carrying a laptop around as “an accessory,” pretending to be in a meeting, or booking your calendar with “busy” time.
Now, we all know that ”looking busy” isn’t anything new. Both in-office employees and remote workers have been doing it for years (looking at you, Sneaky Fridays). In fact, the term “fauxductivity” has been coined as a result of it. But here’s the difference: “Looking busy” is a result of needing to take a breather or plain old procrastination—task masking is a result of a lack of autonomy.
Employees who are used to more flexibility and have returned to an office feel the need to always look like they are working, even if all their work is done for the day. At home, they might have had to jiggle their mouse to look “on,” but they could still fold their laundry during a meeting, take their call from a cozy coffee shop, or dip out early. They could work their way, and as long as everything was done, no one had anything to say about it. In the office, it’s all work, all desk time, all the time—someone can always see you. Appearing to be working on a task, even when all their tasks are done, feels like the only solution.
How task masking can impact your career
With return-to-office mandates in full force, employers are “sending a message that presence equals productivity,” Amanda Augustine, career coach at career.io, told Fortune. These days, most employees fiercely disagree as they’ve been capable of getting all their work done on their terms and in less time from home. Now that they are in the office, workers are task masking so they 1) aren’t given more work just to fill their time or 2) can manage their burnout.
However, what they think is working for them is actually working against them. Elite Recruiter says, “You’re not fooling your boss; you’re only hurting your career.” By task masking, employees are sending one of two messages back to their workplace: “You don’t have enough meaningful work, or you don’t think what you do matters,” explains Elite Recruiter. Both of these are huge issues for the employer and employee alike. Employers don’t want to pay employees for eight hours when their work only takes them three, and employees don’t want added work just to fill their in-office face time, especially if they’re already suffering from burnout.
“Employees who are used to more flexibility and have returned to an office feel the need to always look like they are working, even if all their work is done for the day.”
But making it look like you’re working long after you’re finished can seriously hinder performance in the long run. Not to mention, it creates a communication and trust gap between employees and managers, which can ultimately get in the way of earning raises, promotions, or bonuses. And we can’t have that in this economy.
So, what can you do?
If you’re a task masker, you’ll be glad to know that there is a way out of your miserable, busy-body work days—and it starts with some serious introspection. First, Elite Recruiter recommends asking yourself whether or not what you’re doing is what you want to be doing. Is this the job for you? When you are doing your work, do you enjoy it? Is this a work environment you want to be a part of? Do you feel valued? If not, the answer is simple: Start job searching. The last thing you want to do is get caught regularly task masking and get fired or take on more work just for the sake of it.
If you decide that your job is the right fit, but your new work routine isn’t it for you, whether it be due to burnout or a lack of autonomy, have a conversation with your manager. Now that you’re back in the office, ask them what success looks like, how performance is being measured with the change, and if there is any flexibility available in your new schedule. Remember, they are adjusting to the change just as much as you are. They might be more accommodating than you think. At the end of the day, you might still spend some of your time “looking busy,” but you won’t be labeled as someone who isn’t eager to work or deserving of career advancement.
Hailey Bouche, Associate Editor
As an Associate Editor for The Everygirl, Hailey Bouche oversees, writes, and edits content across various categories on the site. From the pitching stage through publishing, she works alongside the team to ensure that the content that our readers see every day is inspiring, relatable, and timely.