I had a job where I was made to “look busy” by carrying around a clipboard. I pretended to look at shelves as if I were writing down product information, but I was actually doodling and writing down story ideas.

Prior to that, I would legit look up product information, so that I could better inform the customers who asked me questions. But management didn’t like seeing me standing at a computer and told me to stop. Ah well.

I’m sure you know this but it’s about control and the middle manager emotional validation of seeing a bunch of people “working” at their stations.

I also do only the minimum required to keep my job, just like how they pay the absolute minimum to prevent me from quitting. It’s just business. It’s not like there’s a reward for working harder.