The modern workplace is going through a major shift. After years of remote work, many companies are now pushing employees back to the office. This transition has led to a growing trend called “task masking”—where employees appear busy but aren’t actually working efficiently. With the return to office policies becoming stricter, many employees are struggling to adjust to structured in-office work again.
This phenomenon highlights a key issue in modern workplaces: the difference between being present and being productive.
But why are companies so eager to bring people back? And is there still a place for remote work? Let’s explore the reasons behind this shift and the key factors businesses must consider when deciding between remote, hybrid, or full in-office work.
What Is Task Masking?
Task masking is the act of pretending to be busy while doing minimal work. Instead of being genuinely productive, employees engage in behaviours that create the illusion of being occupied.
Here are 15 Common Task Masking Tactics:
1. The “Urgent” Email Strategy
📩 Sending Non-Essential Emails at Strategic Times
💡 How It Works:
- Sending emails early in the morning or late at night to appear hardworking.
- Scheduling emails to auto-send at odd hours (e.g., 6 AM or 10 PM).
- CC’ing multiple people to create the illusion of importance.
2. Meeting Overload
🗓️ Filling the Calendar to Avoid Real Work
💡 How It Works:
- Scheduling pointless meetings just to look busy.
- Prolonging discussions by asking unnecessary questions.
- Staying muted on Zoom calls while doing other things.
3. The Art of Tab Switching
💻 Quickly Changing Screens When Someone Walks By
💡 How It Works:
- Keeping a fake spreadsheet or document open for quick switching.
- Pressing ALT+Tab (Windows) or Command+Tab (Mac) when a manager approaches.
- Having multiple windows open to look like they’re multitasking.
4. Loud Keyboard Typing
⌨️ Making Noise to Seem Busy on Virtual Calls
💡 How It Works:
- Typing random words or gibberish loudly during meetings.
- Hitting the spacebar repeatedly just to create sound.
- Using a mechanical keyboard for extra noise impact.
5. Wandering the Office
☕ Walking Around Aimlessly to Appear Engaged
💡 How It Works:
- Holding a coffee cup or a notebook and pretending to be on a mission.
- Walking to other departments without a real purpose.
- Engaging in small talk just long enough to avoid work but not raise suspicion.
6. Dragging Out Tasks
⏳ Taking Way Too Long to Finish Simple Work
💡 How It Works:
- Over-explaining tasks to make them seem harder.
- Revising and tweaking small details endlessly.
- Spending hours on minor research before actually starting.
7. Mouse Jiggling & Active Status Tricks
🖱️ Fooling Activity Monitors
💡 How It Works:
- Using a mouse jiggler to prevent the system from going idle.
- Running background scripts to auto-send status updates.
- Moving the mouse randomly when managers are active online.
8. Fake Calls & Extended Meetings
☎️ Pretending to Be on Important Calls
💡 How It Works:
- Calling their own phone and talking to themselves.
- Staying muted in long conference calls while multitasking.
- Ending a Zoom call only to say, “Sorry, I have another meeting now.”
9. Overcomplicating Simple Tasks
📂 Making Basic Work Seem Like Rocket Science
💡 How It Works:
- Writing excessively long emails instead of getting to the point.
- Using buzzwords and jargon to sound more technical.
- Creating unnecessary reports, charts, and PowerPoint slides.
10. “Technical Issues” Excuse
🖥️ Blaming Tech Problems for Delays
💡 How It Works:
- “My Wi-Fi just went out!” – Used to explain why they missed something.
- “Zoom isn’t working!” – A go-to excuse to avoid meetings.
- “My VPN won’t connect!” – A delay tactic to push deadlines.
11. Passive Emailing
📩 Using Emails to Look Busy Without Doing Much
💡 How It Works:
- Sending vague emails with open-ended questions to delay work.
- Overusing “Just checking in…” emails to appear proactive.
- Replying with “Let’s circle back on this” to avoid taking action.
12. Frequent “Bathroom Breaks” & Disappearing Acts
🚶♂️ Taking Excessive, Untracked Breaks
💡 How It Works:
- Disappearing for long restroom breaks multiple times a day.
- Being “between meetings” but never actually available.
- Taking an hour-long coffee run disguised as a quick break.
13. Fake Multitasking Illusion
🔄 Jumping Between Tasks Without Completing Anything
💡 How It Works:
- Having too many windows open but doing little actual work.
- Starting multiple projects but never finishing them.
- Pretending to take notes in meetings but never following up.
14. Scheduling Messages for Later
⏳ Sending Work Updates at Strategic Times
💡 How It Works:
- Writing a Slack message or email and scheduling it to send later.
- Replying just before a manager logs in to seem proactive.
- Sending updates on Friday evening to look dedicated before the weekend.
15. Fake Urgency & Fake Stress
😰 Acting Overwhelmed to Avoid More Work
💡 How It Works:
- Saying things like “I have SO much on my plate right now!”
- Looking stressed and typing aggressively to seem busy.
- Pretending to be in deep concentration mode to avoid conversations.
At the end of the day, real productivity will always stand out over task masking. Employers are now tracking real output, not just online presence—so these tricks might not work forever.
Why Task Masking is a Problem
While these tricks might fool managers temporarily, they hurt businesses and employees in the long run:
🚫 Lower Productivity – More time spent pretending to work than actually working.
🚫 Lost Accountability – It becomes harder to track real contributions.
🚫 Toxic Work Culture – If one person gets away with it, others start copying.
Why Are Companies Cracking Down on Remote Work?
During the pandemic, remote work became the norm, and employees proved they could be just as—if not more—productive from home. However, many companies are now reversing their remote work policies. Why?
1. Control & Supervision
Many managers believe that if they can’t see employees, they aren’t working. Despite technology allowing for remote monitoring, some companies still associate productivity with physical presence.
2. Expensive Office Spaces
Corporations have invested millions in office buildings, leases, and utilities. Empty offices make these investments look wasteful, pushing companies to fill them again.
3. Collaboration & Team Building
Executives argue that in-person interactions spark creativity, improve communication, and strengthen company culture. While virtual meetings help, some believe real innovation happens face-to-face.
4. Middle Management Challenges
Remote work reduces the need for constant managerial oversight. Some managers feel their authority is diminished when employees work independently at home.
5. The “Old School” Mindset
Some leaders still follow traditional corporate values that prioritize time spent at the desk over actual results.
The Benefits of Being Physically at Work
Advantages for Employers
✅ Stronger Company Culture – In-office work fosters team spirit, casual conversations, and company loyalty.
✅ More Control & Oversight – Managers can directly observe employee performance and engagement.
✅ Faster Problem-Solving – Immediate face-to-face discussions can resolve issues quicker than email chains.
✅ Encourages Work-Life Separation – Employees focus solely on work in an office, reducing personal distractions.
✅ Reduces Task Masking – It’s harder to fake productivity when a manager can physically check in.
Advantages for Employees
✅ Easier Networking & Career Growth – Being visible in the office can lead to more promotions and opportunities.
✅ Stronger Work Relationships – Socializing with colleagues can boost teamwork and job satisfaction.
✅ More Defined Work-Life Balance – Leaving the office at the end of the day creates a clear boundary between work and personal life.
✅ Access to Office Resources – Faster computers, better internet, and physical equipment make some tasks easier.
✅ Fewer Technical Issues – No worrying about home Wi-Fi problems or VPN failures.
The Pros & Cons of Working from Home
Advantages of Working from Home
✅ Higher Productivity – Fewer office distractions, long meetings, and unnecessary interruptions.
✅ Better Work-Life Balance – No commute means more personal time and less stress.
✅ Cost Savings – Employees save money on fuel, transportation, and office attire.
✅ Flexible Hours – Some remote jobs allow employees to work during their most productive times.
✅ Health Benefits – Less exposure to office germs and better mental well-being for some employees.
Disadvantages of Working from Home
❌ Feeling Isolated – Lack of face-to-face interaction can lead to loneliness.
❌ Blurred Work-Life Boundaries – It’s harder to “switch off” when your home is your office.
❌ More Distractions – Household chores, pets, or family members can disrupt workflow.
❌ Limited Networking & Visibility – Less in-person exposure might slow career growth.
❌ Weaker Team Collaboration – Zoom calls aren’t the same as in-person discussions.
❌ Lack of Professionalism – Background noise, bad internet, and casual attitudes harm the company’s image.
❌ Overworking Risks – Some remote workers struggle to take breaks, leading to burnout.
The Bigger Picture: Measuring Productivity, Not Presence
The rise of task masking exposes a deeper workplace issue: many companies still confuse visibility with productivity. Instead of focusing on results, some organizations prioritize employees just being present.
Forcing employees back to the office doesn’t automatically improve performance. If anything, it has led to passive resistance—where employees pretend to be busy but aren’t actually engaged.
Task masking sometimes isn’t about laziness or incompetence—it’s often a response to rigid workplace policies where being seen working is valued more than actual results.
Balance is key
Going fully remote can weaken team culture, slow down decision-making, and make it harder to mentor younger employees. On the other hand, forcing everyone back five days a week, after they’ve experienced flexibility, just breeds resentment.
A hybrid model seems like the best middle ground. A combination of three days in-office, two days remote—so there’s face-to-face collaboration but also flexibility. Even four days in office and one day remote would work. This way:
✅ Companies get their team culture and oversight.
✅ Employees get some work-life balance and fewer commutes.
✅ Productivity remains the main focus instead of just showing up.
Some companies are doing structured hybrid (set in-office days), while others do flexible hybrid (employees choose their days).
Structured Hybrid Model
I believe a structured hybrid model makes more sense. I say this both as a former employer and employee.
Having set days where everyone is in ensures:
✔ Collaboration happens – No more endless Slack messages and delayed responses.
✔ Meetings are productive – No half-in-office, half-on-Zoom situations.
✔ Managers can plan better – Knowing when the team is present helps with scheduling and oversight.
✔ Stops long weekend loopholes – Stops the “long weekend” loophole of remote Fridays and Mondays.
✔ Structure – Keeps structure while allowing flexibility.
The lack of structure has made things too casual, and for businesses that rely on professionalism, it’s a huge problem. Here are some of the issues to name a few:
👎 Barking dogs, crying babies, and background noise—totally unprofessional for customer interactions.
👎 Poor call quality—VoIP and home Wi-Fi aren’t as reliable as an office phone system.
👎 People taking advantage—Some work hard remotely, but others just disappear or drag out tasks.
👎 No accountability—If no one is watching, are they really working?
A strict in-office policy would fix these issues. In fact it would bring back discipline, professionalism, and real accountability. Customers would get clear communication, managers could see who’s actually working, and employees would stop treating work like it’s an afterthought. But is this the best solution out there?
What’s the Best Solution?
Rather than enforcing rigid return-to-office policies, companies could focus on:
✔ Measuring actual performance instead of desk time.
✔ Offering hybrid flexibility to balance in-person and remote work benefits.
✔ Building a results-driven culture rather than micromanaging employees.
✔ Improving office environments so employees actually want to come in.
At the end of the day, the best work environment is one that values output over optics—where employees are trusted to do their jobs regardless of where they are sitting.
But it also depends on the industry. Some industries, especially those based on measurable output, can handle remote work because their KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) are crystal clear. Other industries simply cannot. Here are some examples:
Industries that can work in a remote setting:
✅ Software Development & IT – As long as the code gets written and deployed, location doesn’t matter.
✅ Content Creation & Design – Writers, graphic designers, and video editors can deliver results from anywhere.
✅ Data Analysis & Research – As long as reports are submitted on time, remote work is fine.
Industries that cannot work in a remote setting:
For industries that require real-time interaction, supervision, and professionalism, remote work may not be the best choice:
❌ Customer Service & Call Centres – Background noise such as dogs barking, kids screaming and poor connections ruin professionalism.
❌ Finance & Legal Services – Sensitive client information needs to be handled securely.
❌ Manufacturing & Retail – Can’t sell products or oversee operations from home.
❌ Sales Teams – In-person relationships still drive deals and business growth.
So rather than a one-size-fits-all remote work policy, businesses should decide based on their industry and on whether work can be fulfilled, tracked and measured properly outside an office.
Even if the work can be measured remotely, having people in the office still brings discipline, professionalism, and a sense of team cohesion that’s hard to replicate online.
Plus, there’s something about the physical office environment that keeps people focused. No distractions like TV, laundry, or long “coffee breaks” at home. And let’s be real—not everyone is self-motivated enough to be productive at home. Some need that structured setting to actually get things done.
The Ripple Effect: How Remote Work Impacts Small Businesses, Landlords & More
It is also important to note that while remote work has given employees flexibility, it has also disrupted entire ecosystems that depended on office workers. The impact is far-reaching, affecting small businesses, landlords, public services, and even city economies.
📉 Small Businesses Losing Customers
Many small businesses—coffee shops, lunch spots, bars, dry cleaners, and convenience stores—built their business models around serving office workers. With fewer people commuting daily:
❌ Cafés and restaurants have seen major revenue drops, forcing some to close or reduce hours.
❌ After-work bars struggle because fewer employees are gathering for post-office drinks.
❌ Dry cleaners and tailoring services have lost customers as people wear casual clothes at home instead of business attire.
❌Clothing stores once catering to professionals have shut down or pivoted to casual wear.
❌Stationery and office supply stores face dwindling demand.
❌Even gyms and fitness studios that relied on office workers for lunchtime workouts have struggled to stay afloat.
🏬 Landlords & Commercial Real Estate Hit Hard
With companies downsizing their office space or getting rid of it altogether:
❌ Many landlords face high vacancy rates, leading to financial losses.
❌ Office buildings have been repurposed into residential apartments due to lower demand.
❌ Cities that thrived on corporate tenants and business districts are seeing empty offices, reducing tax revenue.
🚇 Public Transport & Infrastructure Suffering
Fewer commuters mean public transport revenue has dropped, leading to:
❌ Cuts in bus, subway, and train services due to lower ticket sales.
❌ Higher fares to compensate for lost revenue, making transport less affordable.
❌ Less funding for infrastructure projects, as governments rely on transport-related taxes.
🏙️ The Death of Business Districts?
Cities that were once bustling business hubs have turned into ghost towns on weekdays:
❌ Hotels catering to business travelers have lower occupancy rates.
❌ Conference centers and event spaces struggle to book corporate events.
❌ Rideshare services & taxis have seen a decline in workday passengers.
⚖️ The Need for Balance
The shift to remote work has transformed entire industries—some for the better, others for the worse. While certain businesses (like tech and e-commerce) have thrived, those reliant on office culture are struggling. A structured hybrid model (e.g., requiring in-office work on key days) could help keep businesses alive while still allowing employees flexibility.
A Generational Shift in Work Culture
🧑💼 From the Great Resignation to Task Masking
The rise of task masking isn’t an isolated phenomenon—it’s the latest phase in a larger shift in workplace attitudes over the last few years.
It follows trends like the Great Resignation and quiet quitting, which emerged as employees reevaluated their relationship with work.
🚪 The Great Resignation (2021-2022): Walking Away from the Old Work Model
At the height of the pandemic, millions of workers voluntarily left their jobs, either to find better opportunities, escape toxic workplaces, or prioritize work-life balance.
✅ Employees wanted higher pay, remote flexibility, and better mental health support.
✅ Companies scrambled to retain talent, offering higher wages and improved benefits.
✅ Some businesses struggled to function, with entire industries (hospitality, healthcare, and retail) facing severe labor shortages.
😶 Quiet Quitting (2022-Present): Doing the Bare Minimum
When quitting outright wasn’t an option, many employees stopped going above and beyond. They did their jobs but nothing extra—rejecting overtime, unpaid responsibilities, and excessive workloads.
✅ A direct pushback against hustle culture and burnout.
✅ Employees focused on personal well-being over career ambition.
✅ Companies responded by demanding productivity tracking and cracking down on remote workers.
🎭 Task Masking (2024-Present): The Illusion of Productivity
Now, as companies enforce return-to-office policies, a new trend has emerged: task masking—where employees pretend to be busy instead of actually being productive.
✅ Employees feel forced back into offices but don’t believe it makes them more efficient.
✅ Lack of trust between workers and management leads to productivity theater (looking busy rather than doing meaningful work).
✅ Companies tighten policies—some enforcing attendance, monitoring software, or mandating in-office days to regain control.
Final Thoughts
Striking the Right Balance in the Workplace
The rise of task masking is more than just employees pretending to be busy—it’s a symptom of a larger workplace shift. From the Great Resignation to quiet quitting and now productivity theater, employees and employers are still navigating the post-pandemic work culture.
On one hand, businesses need structure, accountability, and real productivity—not just employees showing up to fill a seat. On the other, workers value flexibility and autonomy, especially after experiencing the benefits of remote work. The challenge is finding a middle ground that benefits both sides.
Ultimately, task masking, quiet quitting, and productivity theater exist because there’s a disconnect between expectations and reality. Companies that enforce structure but remain flexible will likely see the best results, while employees who engage meaningfully—whether remote or in-office—will thrive in the evolving workplace.
The future of work isn’t fully remote or fully in-office—it’s a thoughtfully balanced hybrid model that keeps everyone productive, engaged, and satisfied.
