Work-Related Program Activities
Annys Shin in The Washington Post takes a look at the ways downturn-related anxiety hurt the still-employed:
In good times, workers frequently seized the opportunity to use “flex time” and family leave, to telecommute and to take paid sick days. But, according to workplace consultants, human resources specialists and employees themselves, those days are slipping away. More workers are giving up those arrangements, or resisting asking about them in the first place, out of fears that doing so will make them appear less committed to their work and therefore more expendable.
This reminds me of the larger issue of activities designed not to be work, but to appear to be work. Pretty much nobody with an office job, for example, takes in a weekday matinee once a week as I did when I was on a work-from-home schedule. But at the same time, pretty much everybody with an office job spends more than two hours a week basically slacking off rather than working. The key, however, is to slack off by doing things that look like work to the casual observer, rather than things (like going to a movie) that are clearly not work. This is why blog traffic drops dramatically during non-work days and non-work hours. Looking at a computer is more-or-less what an office worker is supposed to be doing, so looking at a blog for a bit can pass for working.
What’s happening, basically, is that people are using their leisure time in non-optimal ways in order to squeeze them into the basic “sitting at my desk, looking at a screen” format. One wonders how much lost welfare there is to this system relative to one in which people did as much work, but did it continuously, and just spent less time in the office and more time doing whatever.
38 Responses to “Work-Related Program Activities”
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March 23rd, 2009 at 2:47 pm
So, then if we all worked from home, a ton of bloggers would be put out of business?
March 23rd, 2009 at 2:49 pm
But at the same time, pretty much everybody with an office job spends more than two hours a week basically slacking off rather than working.
You’ve clearly never held a proper office job. It’s more like >two hours a day.
March 23rd, 2009 at 2:52 pm
I suppose Matt is smart enough to have realized earlier that his entire career has been dependent on people slacking off at work.
One wonders how much lost welfare there is to this system relative to one in which people did as much work, but did it continuously, and just spent less time in the office and more time doing whatever.
But, Matt, in that system, would you still have a job? It’s doubtful!
March 23rd, 2009 at 2:53 pm
In good times, workers frequently seized the opportunity to use “flex time” and family leave, to telecommute and to take paid sick days.
What “good times” is the author talking about? There are actually pretty low levels of companies offering flex time or telecommute options and even lower levels of workers who actually used these options.
One of the initial concerns was the appearance of being less dedicated and visible, possibley being passed over for promotions because senior management forgets you exist.
March 23rd, 2009 at 2:57 pm
Having worked in Europe for 10 years and previously for 15 in the US, I can tell you the lack of “sitting at my desk, looking at a screen” that you mention is not as prevalent here and on reason that many European countries have more holidays and vacation and yet remain near or more productive per year than US workers. We (am I European now?) don’t stand around the water cooler bullshiting about Seinfeld or surf the web as much. No boss expects you to ‘put in the extra hours’ for the sake of appearances, just that your work is done and done well.
I don’t miss the see-who-can-send-the-last-late-night-email game at all, either.
March 23rd, 2009 at 3:01 pm
When I worked at an office, I spent lots of time on blogs, but stayed extra time to make uo for it somewhat. This allowed me to crib ambient internet at home, and freed up time to spend with my sig. other or doing other things rather than getting my blog fix in at home. My employer of course could have put the kibosh on it by looking at my usage, of course, but didn’t. I think that says something.
BTW, had I left the office sooner, I still wouldn’t have had that much more time at home, as I always need to unwind after work between work and home. I would have spent more time in the unwinding period had I been leaving early.
Another benefit was that I controlled any expectation of leaving early, making days when I really had to stay late to do work much mire tolerable, since I would have been in the chair anyway.
It might not sound like the best way to live your life, but I felt like i was maximizing my utility within the given constraints (eight hours of work a day in a given workspace not in my home or place of choosing).
March 23rd, 2009 at 3:04 pm
So, then if we all worked from home, a ton of bloggers would be put out of business?
Basically, but then all of the newspapers would revive.
March 23rd, 2009 at 3:05 pm
The brain is like any other muscle, it can only take so much exertion before collapsing. IOW, someone would not be as productive long-term if they were constantly focused on their real work. Every once in a while they need to give their brain a rest and do something like read MattY’s various thoughts.
March 23rd, 2009 at 3:06 pm
I can tell you the lack of “sitting at my desk, looking at a screen” that you mention is not as prevalent here and on reason that many European countries have more holidays and vacation and yet remain near or more productive per year than US workers. We (am I European now?) don’t stand around the water cooler bullshiting about Seinfeld or surf the web as much.
Could be, but on the other hand “The Office” is originally a British show. (Maybe I’m revealing my ignorance by talking about a show I’ve only watched two or three episodes of, and for that matter I’m not sure how well what you’re saying about Europe applies to Britain, but I think my basic point is still valid that it’s less clear-cut than you make it sound.) Ex recto I would guess that low-stakes white-collar work has little to do with productivity one way or another in the macroeconomic sense of the word.
March 23rd, 2009 at 3:06 pm
Yipes, that guy in the foil hat was right! My computer IS looking back at me.
March 23rd, 2009 at 3:10 pm
I don’t miss the see-who-can-send-the-last-late-night-email game at all, either.
My view is that some people are workaholics and get off on that competition. On a personal level I ususally don’t get along with those types, and am more partial to the care-free types. I’m like Mike @6, I’ll take a break during the day to see what smart bloggers are saying, but will stay late if work needs to get done to compensate.
March 23rd, 2009 at 3:15 pm
I’ll take a break during the day to see what smart bloggers are saying, but will stay late if they’re saying anything interesting.
March 23rd, 2009 at 3:24 pm
@9: Neither the British, nor Continental Europeans really consider the British to be Europeans. Culturally, the UK shares a lot of American cultural traits, albeit in attenuated form: the obesity, the seething underclass, the triumphant pride in being ignorant, etc. It also shares to a non-trivial degree the ridiculous, dysfunctional office environment.
March 23rd, 2009 at 3:28 pm
Shut the fuck up, Lonewacko.
March 23rd, 2009 at 3:41 pm
dont forget many people “working late” are not actually working there just waiting for the commute to clear up a little
March 23rd, 2009 at 3:41 pm
Uhh, more like two hours a day.
March 23rd, 2009 at 3:43 pm
MY and I apparently have the same talk to text software
March 23rd, 2009 at 3:50 pm
Actually, who am i kidding? Its more like 4 hours a day.
March 23rd, 2009 at 4:12 pm
Bob Slydell: You see, what we’re actually trying to do here is, we’re trying to get a feel for how people spend their day at work… so, if you would, would you walk us through a typical day, for you?
Peter Gibbons: Yeah.
Bob Slydell: Great.
Peter Gibbons: Well, I generally come in at least fifteen minutes late, ah, I use the side door – that way Lumbergh can’t see me, heh heh – and, uh, after that I just sorta space out for about an hour.
Bob Porter: Da-uh? Space out?
Peter Gibbons: Yeah, I just stare at my desk; but it looks like I’m working. I do that for probably another hour after lunch, too. I’d say in a given week I probably only do about fifteen minutes of real, actual, work.
March 23rd, 2009 at 4:18 pm
DTM certainly spends a good deal of time on this blog.
Maybe he isn’t a shirker and it is part of his job.
March 23rd, 2009 at 4:32 pm
Everyone Says:
March 23rd, 2009 at 3:28 pm
Shut the fuck up, Lonewacko.
Hey now, don’t be so hard on him. He only left out one space after a word and he didn’t include any links, either to his own blog or to one of a hundred-odd other URLs he has registered. That makes this comment a step in the right direction from his usual fare. You know, baby steps.
March 23rd, 2009 at 4:43 pm
Shut the fuck up, “Everyone.”
March 23rd, 2009 at 4:58 pm
Re: Culturally, the UK shares a lot of American cultural traits, albeit in attenuated form: the obesity, the seething underclass, the triumphant pride in being ignorant, etc.
Actually, I’ve heard it said that the UK has developed many of the same social pathologies as the US but more rapidly and to a greater degree. Many people have attributed this to the fact that the UK is largely an atheist/agnostic nation, without the social discipline that religion provides in America. England seems to have the worst of both worlds- neither the social democracy of Europe nor the religiosity of America. Father Nazir-Ali has put it well: if Britain is to avoid being crushed between the twin threats of Islam and nihilism, she must return to her Christian roots.
March 23rd, 2009 at 4:58 pm
goldbricker or troll:
DTM certainly spends a good deal of time on this blog.
Maybe he isn’t a shirker and it is part of his job.
At least he’s constructive and informative and at least he’s uses a consistent name/handle.
March 23rd, 2009 at 5:24 pm
“Many people have attributed this to the fact that the UK is largely an atheist/agnostic nation, without the social discipline that religion provides in America.”
Which is why Scandinavia, which consists of some of the most atheistic/agnostic nations on earth, has so few of the social pathologies of the US, which is a highly religious nation. And I wonder which states in the US are most religious and which have the most problems with “the obesity, the seething underclass, the triumphant pride in being ignorant, etc”?
Father Nazir-Ali needs a giant boot up his ass as a reminder that this isn’t the 14th Century. As do you, dear Hector.
March 23rd, 2009 at 5:30 pm
DTM should have his/her own blog. I’d read that regularly at work while pretending to do work. Seriously though DTM get on that.
March 23rd, 2009 at 6:57 pm
Re: the UK shares a lot of American cultural traits, albeit in attenuated form: the obesity, the seething underclass, the triumphant pride in being ignorant, etc.
The notion that there are no fat people, no stupid people and no seething underclass in Europe is a howling absurdity. Obesity is a worldwide problem, and Europe has not escaped. The Germans have been infamous for being fat for years, and the Mediterranean diet ends up being very fattening when not couple with vigorous outdoor work. As for the underclass, there’s been a lot more rioting in Europe over the last few years (Paris, Athens…) than in the US.
March 23rd, 2009 at 6:59 pm
Yeah, I’d totally read a DTM blog.
March 23rd, 2009 at 7:15 pm
I basically agree with 24Ahead. I often stop to check out blogs because I have been thinking really hard and need a break. Also because most of my work involves using my mind I do a lot of it when I am not at work at all. Whether its driving home or in the shower. I am actually trying to spend less time reading blogs at work and instead mix in simpler tasks with the really hard stuff.
March 23rd, 2009 at 7:15 pm
Many people have attributed this to the fact that the UK is largely an atheist/agnostic nation, without the social discipline that religion provides in America.
What the fuck are you talking about? America, land of social discipline? Many people?
Also, there are hundreds of years of English history that run counter your theory of the benefits of religiosity. That might explain the lack of fervor exhibited there today.
March 23rd, 2009 at 7:49 pm
I solved the problem of reading too many blogs at work by editing the “Hosts” file on my office PC to block all of my favorite web sites.
P.S. This applies to Internet Explorer only.
P.P.S. I’m on my home PC right now, so don’t get wise.
March 23rd, 2009 at 7:51 pm
The notion that there are no fat people, no stupid people and no seething underclass in Europe is a howling absurdity.
Wtf are you talking about? I swear the most annoying person in any discussion is the one who hears a statement which is generally, statistically true and shouts it down because it doesn’t apply in every single, conceivable circumstance. Ugh.
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March 23rd, 2009 at 9:43 pm
Okay JH, here’s a methodologically weak sample size of one. And I’m responding to m1c, who might log back in and say which country s/he is working in.
I worked at an office job, doing word processing, in the early 1990s (in San Francisco, which is technically in the United States). I got hired at 6 hours a day, not the 7.5 hours a day that everyone else worked. At some point I started working 7.5 hours a day. I noticed pretty quickly that I didn’t get any more work done. And I had had more time at home when I was working 6, and screwed around a lot less–a lot less makework time at work, and more actual work.
March 24th, 2009 at 6:00 am
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March 24th, 2009 at 6:14 am
Re: Wtf are you talking about?
What I am talking about is that the Europhilia of the Left is every bit as annoying (and untrue to reality) as the Europhobia of the Right. Europe isn’t Shangri-La. It too has its social pathologies and its incompetences.
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