Ever found yourself staring at your screen on a Friday afternoon, counting down the hours while pretending to be busy?
For many employees, especially in rigid office setups, the pressure to simply “look occupied” can feel more important than actually getting work done. It is this everyday reality that has now sparked a conversation online, after one employee shared how he found a clever way to deal with it.
A Reddit post about ‘fake work’ is gaining attention, which is about how some employees cope with rigid office cultures. The anonymous user revealed how being forced to stay online on Fridays pushed him to develop a clever way to appear busy, while actually reclaiming time for himself.
In his post, the employee explained that his workplace values visibility over actual productivity. Rather than resisting the system, he decided to “play the game” and adapt.
His solution?
A simple but effective trick that makes it look like he is deeply involved in technical work.
“Since management cares more about us being visible at our desks than our actual output, i just play the game,” he wrote.
THE ‘FAKE WORK’ HACK THAT HE USED
The employee shared that he runs a dummy Python script on a second monitor. The script slowly prints lines that resemble server logs, creating the illusion of complex technical activity.
“I have a dummy python script running on my second monitor that just slowly prints out hundreds of lines of simulated server logs. If a manager walks by or checks my screen share, it looks like I’m deep in the matrix monitoring a massive data pipeline deployment,” he explained.
In reality, he spends that time reading or planning his weekend.
WORKPLACE PRESSURE OR SMART SURVIVAL?
The post quickly struck a chord with many users, especially those who feel trapped in environments where long hours matter more than meaningful output.
The employee admitted that this strategy gives him “at least 2 hours of peace every single Friday,” calling it a way of “acting my wage.”
His story reflects a growing frustration among workers who feel that being constantly visible online or at a desk is prioritised over efficiency or creativity.
For some, such coping mechanisms are less about laziness and more about protecting their mental well-being.
INTERNET JOINS THE CONVERSATION
The Reddit post didn’t just stop at one hack, it opened the floor for others to share their own “fake work” routines. Many users responded with similar tricks, turning the thread into a mix of humour and quiet rebellion against workplace norms.
The phrase “corporate panopticon,” used by the employee, captured the sentiment of being constantly watched and evaluated.
His closing line invited others to contribute: “What is your most elaborate fake work routine to survive the corporate panopticon? I need to take notes.”
The viral moment highlights a deeper issue, when employees feel the need to pretend to work, it may point to a mismatch between expectations and reality in modern workplaces.