Bosses lie about their productivity more than their employees, according to a new study

Productivity is a central theme of the workplace debate. Questions like “what makes employees more productive: remote or in-office work?” show the extent to which there is a constant search for greater efficiency and effectiveness. All personnel management is constantly aimed at increasing performance metrics. This is logical because, for a company and its members to prosper, they must increase profits and lower costs. But what about the concept of “false productivity”?

Misleading performance comes from employees at different levels lying or hiding their results. This often happens because of exhaustion, not knowing how to solve problems, or even fear of failure. feedback negative feedback from their superiors. For a long time, the image of the busy manager was synonymous with success. However, according to the report by Workhuman, a platform that promotes wellness policies for the staff37% of managers admitted to pretending to be productive at work, a higher percentage than the 32% of non-managerial employees.

Even more surprising is that CEOs are part of this trend: 38% confessed to exaggerating their results, according to the same report published in English at the end of last month. This gap between what is shown and what is actually done seems to be a direct consequence of the pressure leaders face to maintain the appearance of always being “in charge” and active, reflecting a work culture that values ​​the perceived quantity of work more than the actual quality.

What could be causing this?

The problem lies not only with individuals, but with the expectations that organizations impose. In many work environments, an “always-on” culture demands that employees and managers be available all the time, leading to a constant anxiety about appearing productive, even when one does not have a significant workload.

This dynamic can be fueled by intense activity monitoring systems, which can make employees and leaders feel they must fake work to avoid being seen as disengaged.

According to the human resources experts who produced the report, “false productivity” is not just a matter of laziness, but a reflection of deeper problems within the workplace. Perhaps people are suffering from a burnout; may not feel comfortable asking for help when they need it or may be faced with the challenge of meeting unrealistic expectations.

How to fix it?

Workhuman recommends combating false productivity by promoting a culture of truth and psychological safety. One key, experts say, is allowing employees and managers to admit when they need a break without fearing that it will impact their work. They also recommend creating effective channels for feedback and recognition, so that both employees and leaders feel valued for the actual work they do, rather than for appearing stressed.

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