Our customers have been hired at: *Foot Note
Table of Contents
Get started with MyPerfectResume today!
- Build a resume on any device
- Pick an ATS-friendly template
- Tailor with AI copy suggestions
For many workers, workplace success isn’t only about what they accomplish, but also about how visible they’re while doing it.
New national survey data from MyPerfectResume finds that 70% of U.S. workers believe highly visible employees are rewarded more than those who quietly produce strong results.
That perception is shaping how workers behave on the job. More than half have used tactics to appear busy or productive, while 1 in 5 spend at least one-quarter of their average workday managing appearances rather than doing meaningful work.
Key Findings
- Visibility is seen as more rewarding than results. 70% believe highly visible employees are rewarded more than workers who quietly produce strong results.
- More than half have tried to appear busier. 56% have used at least one behavior to appear busy or productive at work.
- Appearance management consumes meaningful work time. 1 in 5 workers spend at least one-quarter of their average workday managing appearances rather than doing meaningful work.
- Pressure to look productive at work is widespread. 56% feel it sometimes, often, or constantly; 77% experience it at least rarely.
- Immediate responses have become a visibility tactic. 84% respond to messages immediately, primarily to signal attentiveness.
- Workers worry about appearing idle. 82% have worried that appearing “too idle” could negatively affect their job security or career growth.
70% Say Visibility Is Rewarded More Than Results
The workplace visibility vs results survey data found that 7 in 10 workers believe highly visible employees are rewarded more than those who quietly produce strong results.
According to the survey:
- 25% say they definitely do.
- 45% say they somewhat do.
- 21% say they don’t really.
- 9% say they don’t at all.
Altogether, 70% believe appearing busy at work leads to greater rewards, while 30% don’t.
The findings suggest that workers pay attention not only to the results they produce but also to whether those results and their day-to-day activities are visible to others.
More Than Half Have Used Tactics to Appear Busy
More than half of workers (56%) have used at least one behavior to appear busy or productive at work.
Delaying simple tasks was the most commonly reported tactic, but workers also report using messages, online activity, busywork, and meetings to create signs of productivity.
- 25% have delayed simple tasks to appear busy longer.
- 18% have sent emails, messages, or status updates mainly to appear active or available, while 17% have stayed online, logged in, or at their desk longer than necessary to stay visible.
- 17% have stretched out tasks or revisited completed work, while 16% have taken on visible busywork or unnecessary tasks to avoid appearing idle.
- 15% have kept communication or work platforms open even when not actually working, while 14% have typed loudly, moved around frequently, or acted rushed to appear productive.
- 13% have pretended to multitask, take notes, or stay highly engaged during meetings, while 11% have scheduled unnecessary meetings or blocked off calendar time.
- 44% have never intentionally tried to appear busier than they were.
Performative busyness in the workplace can take many forms, from spreading tasks out to creating additional signs of activity that aren’t necessarily tied to increased work output.
1 in 5 Spend at Least One-Quarter of the Workday Managing Appearances
For some workers, managing how productive they appear takes up a meaningful share of the workday.
The survey found:
- 35% spend none of their workday managing appearances.
- 25% spend less than 10%.
- 20% spend 10%–24%.
- 10% spend 25%–49%.
- 6% spend 50%–74%.
- 3% spend 75%–89%.
- 1% spend 90%–100%.
Overall, 65% spend at least some portion of their average workday on productivity theater at work rather than meaningful work, and 1 in 5 workers spend at least one-quarter of the day doing so.
The findings suggest that managing visibility isn’t always a minor workplace distraction. For some employees, it can take up substantial time that might otherwise be spent on meaningful work.
77% Feel Pressure to Look Productive or Available
More than three-quarters of workers experience at least some pressure to look productive or constantly available.
According to the survey:
- 12% constantly feel pressure.
- 18% often feel pressure.
- 26% sometimes feel pressure.
- 21% rarely feel pressure.
- 23% never feel pressure.
Altogether, 77% experience this pressure at least rarely, while 56% feel it sometimes, often, or constantly.
That pressure also shows up in workplace communication: 84% say they’ve responded to messages immediately at least rarely, primarily to signal attentiveness, with 68% doing so frequently or occasionally.
The results suggest that responsiveness can become another way for workers to demonstrate that they’re active, attentive, and available.
82% Have Worried That Appearing Idle Could Hurt Their Career
Concerns about appearing inactive may help explain why workers feel pressure to remain visible.
More than 8 in 10 have worried at least rarely that appearing “too idle” could negatively affect their job security or career growth.
The survey found:
- 17% frequently worry.
- 40% occasionally worry.
- 25% rarely worry.
- 18% never worry.
Overall, 82% have experienced this concern at least rarely, including 57% who worry frequently or occasionally.
For many workers, appearing busy may therefore be about more than recognition. It may also reflect concern about how periods of inactivity could be interpreted and what that could mean for their careers.
Workers Say the Pressure Reflects Broader Workplace Culture
Workers largely see the pressure to appear busy as part of broader workplace visibility culture.
When asked what workers pretending to look busy says about the workplace:
- 50% say workers feel pressure to constantly prove their value.
- 33% cite burnout or disengagement, while 33% point to job insecurity.
- 30% say productivity is confused with visibility, while 30% say companies focus too heavily on surveillance or monitoring.
- 28% say employees don’t feel trusted by management.
- 17% say modern workplaces reward performative behavior, while 12% say it isn’t a serious issue.
Job market conditions may also play a role: 43% say they would feel less pressure to appear busy if the job market were stronger.
Together, the findings suggest that performative busyness can be tied to questions of job security, trust, and how workers believe their value is measured.
35% Are Most Stressed by Pressure to Appear Productive or Available
Actual workload is the most commonly cited individual source of workplace stress, selected by 38%. Pressure around productivity and availability, however, is nearly as significant when you combine the related responses.
Workers identified the following as their biggest sources of workplace stress:
- 38% say it’s their actual workload.
- 20% say it’s pressure to constantly appear productive.
- 18% say it’s job insecurity or fear of layoffs.
- 15% say it’s pressure to always appear available or responsive.
- 9% say it’s fear of falling behind coworkers.
Combined, 35% say their greatest workplace stress comes from pressure to appear productive, available, or responsive.
The results suggest workplace stress isn’t only about the amount of work employees have to complete. For many, it also comes from feeling that they must continually demonstrate that they’re working.
When Visibility Becomes Part of the Job
The survey points to a workplace where doing the work and ensuring it is visible can feel like two separate responsibilities.
While 7 in 10 workers believe highly visible employees are rewarded more than those who quietly produce strong results, more than half have used tactics to appear busy, and 1 in 5 spend at least one-quarter of the workday managing appearances.
At the same time, 82% have worried that appearing too idle could hurt their job security or career growth, suggesting that visibility may be tied not only to getting ahead but also to avoiding being overlooked.
For workers, focusing on clear results, completed projects, progress, and measurable accomplishments can make contributions visible without letting the appearance of productivity become the work itself.
For press inquiries, please contact Nathan Barber at nathan.barber@bold.com.
Methodology
The findings presented in this report are based on a national survey of 1,000 U.S. workers.
Respondents answered a mix of single-selection and multiple-choice questions about workplace visibility, pressure to appear productive, behaviors used to appear busy, responsiveness, job security, workplace stress, and perceptions of how productivity and performance are rewarded.
The findings reflect respondents’ perceptions and self-reported experiences.
Demographic Breakdown
The survey sample included 50% female respondents, 49% male respondents, and 1% who identified as another gender.
Respondents ranged in age from 18 to 99, including 14% aged 18 to 24, 19% aged 25 to 34, 18% aged 35 to 44, 17% aged 45 to 54, 15% aged 55 to 64, and 17% aged 65 to 99.
About MyPerfectResume
MyPerfectResume Resume Builder with professional templates is designed to help job seekers elevate their careers. The easy-to-use platform was created to eliminate the hassle of resume writing, offering professionally written examples, free expert tips, step-by-step guidance to make a resume, and valuable interview advice to create an outstanding job application effortlessly. Since 2012, MyPerfectResume’s Resume Builder has helped more than 11 million job seekers create their perfect resumes online. The MyPerfectResume Research Center produces employment surveys and workforce research that have been featured in Forbes, Yahoo! Finance, CNBC, USA Today, BBC, and more. Add MyPerfectResume as a preferred source on Google to receive more workforce trends, career insights, and labor market research in your personalized search experience.
Rate this article
Jasmine is a certified career coach and recognized expert in job search strategy. She is committed to helping job seekers navigate the job market and succeed in their careers.
More Articles by Jasmine EscaleraShare this page
Add MyPerfectResume as a preferred source on Google
Add
Our customers have been hired at:*Foot Note
