Slack and Salesforce subsidiary and research firm, Qualtrics conducted a worldwide survey involving 18000 employees highlights “performative work”. This encompasses activities like extensive time spent in meetings where teams focus on showcasing achievements rather than actively resolving challenges or making decisions.
According to David Laney, Technological Evangelist for Slack, employees’ focus on appearing busy is “likely influenced” by the way leaders are measuring productivity. “Leaders are most likely to judge productivity based on visible activity instead of focusing on achieving outcomes.”
Globally, the report highlights that visibility and activity metrics, such as tracking online hours and email volume, are the foremost method (27%) leaders employ to gauge productivity. Consequently, employees might experience the expectation to extend their work hours, promptly attend to emails, and participate in every meeting, as the report further notes.
Notably, Singaporean employees lead in this aspect, with 44% stating that their productivity has suffered due to excessive engagement in meetings and emails. The study by Slack also reveals that 63% of respondents strive to maintain an active online status, even during non-working periods.
Despite the pressure to prioritize extended work hours and heightened visibility, the report’s conclusion highlights a different sentiment: the majority of workers desire an alternative approach to measuring productivity.
