Many employees admit to ‘productivity theatre,’ new report from Visier reveals

A new report suggests that nearly half of an employee’s workweek can be consumed by tasks that prioritize visibility over meaningful contributions. The study, conducted by Visier, surveyed 1,000 U.S. full-time workers and found that 83 per cent of respondents engaged in “productivity theatre” — a phenomenon where employees spend time on tasks designed to appear busy, rather than on work that directly impacts business outcomes.

According to the report, 43 per cent of respondents said they spent more than 10 hours a week on performative tasks, with the behaviour cutting across all workplace models, including hybrid, in-person, and remote environments.

The top performative behaviours reported included responding to colleagues via email or instant message as promptly as possible, even when unnecessary (42 per cent), attending non-essential meetings (36 per cent), and scheduling emails to be sent at a future time (36 per cent). Lesser-reported actions involved exaggerating status updates (nine per cent) and embellishing time cards (three per cent).

Visier’s report emphasizes that while these behaviours may not be malicious, they reflect growing pressures on employees to appear productive, particularly as companies grapple with economic uncertainty and increasing reliance on employee monitoring tools.

“Employees aren’t necessarily doing this to avoid work,” a blog post by Visier based on the report states. “Many feel it is important for their professional success, with 64 per cent of respondents believing that their performative behaviours are valuable for both business and personal growth.”

The survey highlighted that employees were most concerned about how their productivity was perceived by managers, with 70 per cent saying they wanted their boss to notice their efforts. Peers and senior leadership also ranked high, cited by 39 per cent and 29 per cent of respondents, respectively.

Visier also explored the reasons behind these behaviours. A significant portion of employees (49 per cent) reported prioritizing tasks that would make them more visible to others, while 30 per cent admitted they arranged their work in a way that would ensure they were perceived as actively engaged.

Competitive pressure also plays a role, with 60 per cent of workers saying they are concerned about how their performance compares to that of their colleagues. However, only eight per cent of respondents cited a desire to avoid additional work as a motivator for their actions, while six per cent said they simply had no other tasks to do.

The rise of surveillance tools in the workplace appears to exacerbate the issue. Employees working under monitoring systems were more than twice as likely to engage in performative behaviours, such as keeping their laptop screen awake when not working or asking a colleague to complete a task on their behalf.

Visier’s report suggests that to address the issue, employers need to foster a culture where value-driven tasks are prioritized over visibility. “The need to appear responsive and valuable is driving much of this performative work,” the report concludes. “Employers should consider adjusting expectations and creating initiatives that focus on meaningful productivity and employee well-being.”

The study underscores the broader implications of productivity theatre, particularly its impact on employee effectiveness and mental health. Time spent on performative tasks could instead be allocated to core job functions or to necessary downtime that allows workers to recharge.