Experts analyzing the labor market and tracking employees' career paths have noticed a new trend among Generation Z employees. More and more of them practice the so-called task masking, i.e. masking tasks.
See also: Generation Z is leaving without saying goodbye. Young employees are leaving their bosses and traditional jobs
As the New York Post explains, the new trend among Zeteks is not only a matter of laziness, but also the result of burnout and management errors. The phenomenon of task masking shows that the traditional approach to work – presence equals productivity – does not work among young workers.
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Companies that require a return to offices often fail to offer a clear purpose, leading to frustration and faking engagement. This is a signal to managers that it is worth taking a closer look at their management and communication style.
Gen Z employees look busy at work, but they're not actually working
“Companies that require employees to return to the office are sending the message that attendance equals productivity,” Amanda Augustine, a career coach at career.io, told Fortune.
In an interview with Fortune magazine, managers admitted that they had noticed an increase in the number of unnecessary meetings or taking too long to perform simple tasks. The human resources director claimed that his company, which was not named, has even seen an increase in the popularity of mouse tracking software.
See also: Generation Z under fire from criticism. All because of a blank stare
Experts cited by the New York Post indicate that the reason may be not only reluctance to work, but also burnout or lack of enough tasks. The Workhuman study cited by Fortune shows that as many as 36 percent employees pretend to be productive, and most of them do not see the impact of this behavior on results.
Experts warn that pretending to be busy for a long time may hinder professional development and indicate maladjustment to the work environment. Specialists whose opinions are quoted by the New York Post advise that instead of pretending, ask for additional tasks and openly talk to the employer about the meaning of full-time work. If only apparent activity is important in your company, it is worth considering changing your workplace.
