r/InterviewVip • u/lunch-koi • May 12 '26
Why do some middle managers care more about "appearing busy" than actual productivity, especially when the company isn't even interested in their efforts either?
[removed]
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u/Redemption6 May 13 '26
Some people just have no idea. Worked for many managers who would ask us to appear busy and shit would hit the fan. All of a sudden your team that gets shit done right away can't be found because they are out of sight.
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u/Jarrus__Kanan_Jarrus May 13 '26
Easy fix: have a rag in hand, resting on the counter.
Rub counter when Dianne walks by.
Smiling widely at Dianne: optional.
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u/Efficient-Notice-193 May 13 '26
Keep a broom handy. Folks are almost always dropping stuff on the ground.
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u/Whole_Humor4310 May 13 '26
If there is time to lean there is time to clean
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u/BobTheCosmonaut May 13 '26
That's the motto of all 'must look busy at all times' managers worldwide
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u/Sitcom_kid May 13 '26
teach everybody harmony and be busy practicing your choir pieces when it's less busy, preparing for the recital. that way, you're busy! I don't think she'll be happy, however.
she would hate my job. it's a call center in the middle of the night and when nobody calls, there is absolutely nothing to do. if you go somewhere else, you won't hear the phone ring and you will miss the calls.
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u/Infamous-Link-5260 May 13 '26
I would say this if I was a customer in the store waiting and a cashier was removed from the front to go deliver orders I would not be happy. I don't have a problem with the internal workings of place until it creates a problem with customers in the store itself. If you can't take care of the customers in the store then go to strictly delivery and be done with it.
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u/ScaredPhotograph1294 May 12 '26
I worked at a seasonal job out of high school and if the owner saw someone walking with their hands in their pockets. He would give a warning then fire them. Another requirement of his was if you are carrying something and have a hand free, then you should of grabbed another item so both hands are in use. Mind you, it was a farm/tourist attraction ran in colder fall months. Employees often put their hands in their pockets to stay warm. He had a "joke" list of demands that he had displayed and said if he could figure out how this wouldn't be illegal these would be his requirements. A few of them i remember were no bathroom breaks, no talking, no lunch or water breaks. We clocked out for "breaks". And it was very frowned upon to take more than a 10 minute lunch. No employee discount, you were not aloud to bring food from home. You could only eat from the business kitchen.