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 Managers desire employees to be present at work for increased efficiency.
 
 Therefore, Gen Z employees are utilizing the heightened emphasis on being present to "appear busier" than they actually are, but experts caution this might result in additional stress and burnout.
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 Ever since
 Amazon’s major comeback to the workplace
 Following the mandate from late last year, an increasing number of employers are discontinuing remote work options and requiring more employees to report to physical offices.


 Despite facing
 desk shortages
 and
 counter petitions
 Across the board, bosses from employee ranks continue to assert that a greater physical presence correlates with heightened productivity. However, they might discover that the inverse is actually the case.


 That's because frustrated younger employees can now no longer afford to "
 loud quit
 and risk losing their jobs in the challenging job market instead, they're engaging in 'task masking'.


 In essence, these individuals are putting in additional effort just to appear as though they're diligently working when in reality, they aren’t really doing much. Scrolling through TikTok swiftly reveals an abundance of tips on appearing occupied at the workplace; strutting around briskly with a laptop wedged beneath your arm and clacking away loudly on the keyboard are among the favored methods.


 However, outside of social media, managers explain
 
 
 That it’s a trend they've been observing gradually integrate into their workforce. Here’s how task shielding truly affects productivity—and what this signifies for Generation Z employees.

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 Task masking can be attributed to micromanagement.
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 The careers platform, career.io, which introduced this concept, notes that task masking has risen alongside the increase in time employees spend at the office for an evident reason: "Organizations requiring staff to come back to physical offices are conveying the idea that being present equates to being productive," according to Amanda Augustine, a career coach affiliated with career.io.


 This trend showcases how young professionals feel that spending more hours at work or having direct presence doesn't equate to their productivity and influence.


 Fundamentally, the purpose of task masking is to demonstrate that appearing busy does not equate to being more productive.


 Numerous managers echoed to
 
 
 They have directly observed an increase in employees setting up unneeded meetings and intentionally stretching out straightforward tasks throughout their whole workday to seem constantly occupied.


 Yet, according to Jenni Field, who established and leads Redefining Communications, this isn’t anything unprecedented.


 Detachment and ineffectiveness can occur in any setting, be it an office environment or remote work," states the communication expert. "When individuals lack motivation, they simply won't put forth effort.


 For instance: An HR director mentioned this to
 
 
 an increase in the number of times employees at her company have downloaded mouse movement software—the digital version of pretending to be occupied with work.


 Field cites ambiguous expectations, excessive oversight, and poor communication as the primary culprits: "When an individual isn't achieving outcomes, the problem lies not with their location but rather with how they're being supervised."


 If individuals must come into the workplace, there needs to be a distinct objective aside from mere visibility, particularly when tasks can potentially be handled remotely," she notes. "Should this aim fail to materialize, staff members and management ought to collaborate in reshaping the concept of physical presence at work and tackle the underlying issues causing productivity loss due to non-essential activities.


 Victoria McLean, CEO and founder of the career consulting firm City CV, emphasizes that task masking ought to serve as a wakeup call for managers.


 If staff members find themselves having to fake productivity, the query shouldn't be 'Why aren't they exerting more effort?' Instead, it should be: 'Why do they believe their genuine contributions aren't appreciated?' If individuals are investing more energy in seeming busy rather than achieving actual outcomes, this often points towards problems with either trust or employee involvement.

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 Task masking could indicate something more malevolent.
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 Actually, task masking may not be as significant a hindrance to productivity as one might think. Ultimately, there is limited time spent merely scurrying about and making noisy keystrokes.


 Actually, numerous employees have been engaged in this practice for most of 2024—well before the trend was officially named. managers, did you catch onto it at all?


 According to a Workhuman study, thirty-six percent of employees claimed to have pretended to be productive during the previous summer. This was primarily due to their desire for improved work-life harmony. Additionally, approximately seventy percent stated that this behavior did not affect their performance, and close to half mentioned that they continue to consider themselves above-average performers.


 "This suggests that the main causes of 'task masking' might not stem from an unwillingness to perform tasks, but instead could arise from exhaustion associated with working in the office or lacking sufficient assignments to occupy their time during office hours," Augustine explains.


 Lee Broders, a life coach, business growth mentor, and serial entrepreneur, emphasizes that regardless of whether you're engaging in task masking due to burnout or distrust towards management, pretending to complete tasks might end up being counterproductive. This behavior can ultimately exacerbate stress and contribute to even greater levels of burnout among employees.


 "If you notice yourself engaging in task masking, pause and reflect: Is this because you're feeling unmotivated, disengaged, or frustrated with present regulations?" he counsels younger employees.


 Rather than expending effort just to appear occupied, Broders suggests that employees should discuss with their managers how they can enhance their workload or work schedule for better flexibility.


 He suggests prioritizing the establishment of objectives and promoting a more conducive atmosphere for productive work rather than concentrating on the outward appearance of labor.


 McLean suggests that employees who take masks are essentially "cheating" themselves.


 Building your career doesn't rely solely on how many hours you spend at your desk; instead, it depends on achieving results, cultivating strong relationships, and establishing a solid reputation. Should you find the time spent in the office unimportant, discuss this openly with your employer," she says further. "However, if the company prioritizes showing activity rather than genuine contributions, perhaps consider whether such an atmosphere will support your development.


 This tale was initially showcased on

Gen Z Workers 'Task Masking' to Appear Ultra-Busy; Experts Sound the Alarm on Self-Sabotage

Unknown business, employees, productivity, technology, workforce

Managers desire employees to be present at work for increased efficiency. Therefore, Gen Z employees are utilizing the heightened emphasis on being present to "appear busier" than they a…