The Rise of Task Masking: A Silent Threat to Career Growth

In the modern workplace, a concerning trend known as “task masking” is emerging, particularly among Generation Z employees. This phenomenon involves workers concealing their actual productivity levels, often resorting to showing minimal effort while appearing busy. Amanda Augustine, a career coach at career.io, coined the term “task masking,” which has gained traction on social media platforms like TikTok.

A recent Workhuman survey from 2024 reveals that 36% of employees admitted to faking productivity. Surprisingly, 70% of these individuals claimed that this behavior had no positive impact on their work results. The trend suggests a deeper issue within workplace dynamics, particularly concerning engagement and management practices.

According to Victoria McLean, CEO and founder of City CV, task masking may indicate that employees do not perceive the value of being present in the office. She points out that when employees prioritize the appearance of productivity over actual output, it often reflects underlying trust or engagement issues. McLean emphasizes, “It’s ‘Why don’t they feel their real work is valued?’”

Task masking is also linked to miscommunication and micromanagement, as Jenni Field, founder and CEO of Redefining Communications, notes. She states, “If someone is not delivering results, the issue is not where they are working but how they are being managed.” Furthermore, Field suggests that companies demanding a return to the office often send a message equating presence with productivity.

This trend has practical repercussions as well. A human resources director reported an increase in mouse movement software within their company, which they suspect may be related to task masking. Moreover, managers may notice a rise in unnecessary meetings and prolonged durations for simple tasks. Such behaviors can stem from employees feeling disengaged or uninspired in their roles.

Amanda Augustine elaborates on the implications of task masking, suggesting that it may arise from feelings of burnout or a lack of meaningful work. “This indicates that the key reasons for ‘task masking’ may not be due to a refusal to do work, but rather from feelings of burn-out from being in the office or not having enough work to fill their hours in the office,” she explains.