A few days ago, The Guardian reported on both the increasing call from bosses to come back into the office as well as the variously creative ways Gen Z are “taskmasking”. The report states:
A swath of the US’s young office workers came of age when the pandemic required staying home. This might be the first time they’ve been asked to consistently commute to a job site instead of getting tasks done on their own schedule, in the privacy of their home. Now, physically surrounded by colleagues and higher-ups, they must learn to visually communicate busyness.
In 2019, the culture writer Anne Helen Petersen described the similar phenomenon of “Larping your job,” borrowing the acronym for live action role playing.
Cierra Gross, who runs Caged Bird HR – an independent human resources consulting firm – notes:
“It is inevitable that there will be people who try to game the system in every company… Taskmasking might be associated with low performers, but high performers who quickly finish their work can also do it, too.”
It’s not uncommon for workers to complete a big project and then have nothing to do in the office. “As far as your manager is concerned, your work is done, so you can just sit at a computer and surf the web,” Gross said.
There is a genuine discussion to be had concerning work/life balance, working conditions and whether being physically present is necessarily as vital for work life and productivity as some wish to argue. All these are legitimate things to press into and warrant a case being made. Many employers do offer hybrid working and, increasingly, four-long-day weeks as enticements to the job. Gen Z may be the generation who force the question more directly: is there more to life than work? Their answer is a hard yes and, to be frank, I agree. We would be much happier if we did more for the life side of the equation.
However, though I think the question is important and I am all for better work-life balance – I am in agreement with most unions that advocate four-day working weeks (not four long days) with no loss of pay – the means by which the question is being forced in Gen Z is a cause of consternation. Better work-life balance is a stronger argument when it comes from those who are working hard. Those who are productive and busy, those who are clearly serving work to the detriment of their home life, they are the ones who make the most compelling case for creating some balance. LARPing your job is the very reason why people are being called back to the office and why bosses are reticent to give more home-time to those who fail to adequately operate during work-hours.
The Bible does have a number of things to say about work. Perhaps most notably and directly in Colossians 3:22-24. I think this is particularly significant given Paul addresses this not to any old workers, but to Christian slaves:
22 Slaves,[a] obey in everything those who are your earthly masters,[b] not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. (ESV)
Even slaves were to view their work as being done for Jesus. Their boss is not their master, not really, but Christ. And if true for slaves, how much more true for those who are simply ordinary unenslaved employees with perfectly acceptable working conditions? For the Christian, ‘you are serving the Lord Christ’ in your work.
When we grasp hold of just what God is saying here, whether we think our working conditions are great or we think there is a case to be made for campaigning for better conditions, what is clear is this: whatever your situation now, do your work as though you are doing it directly for Jesus. Indeed, you are doing it directly for Jesus. Your approach to your work will convey something about Jesus to all who know you as a Christian. To put it another way, how will we feel on the last day, when all the secrets of men’s hearts are revealed, and our LARPing at work is on full display? How do we feel about LARPing for Jesus? If we (rightly) feel a bit sketchy about that, the Bible would say we should feel similarly troubled about doing it in our secular workplace. After all, whilst you are there, you are serving the Lord Christ.
I guess it depends on whether you are being paid by the hour or for outcomes. Traditionally you have had piece work options at home. Even teachers have this with exam paper marking. If you are paid to do x or y rather than by the hour then arguably it is within your right to do the work then focus on other things. From a Christian perspective though I think the issue is whether the other things I do are work or recreation. Working six days and resting 1 doesn’t mean I have to be in the factory or office for 6 days but there should be something work orientated in how I spend my time.
I don’t think it does make a difference whether paid hourly or for outcomes. If paid for outcomes and you hit your outcome, I don’t think LARPing is the right response to that. You finish work and say I’m done. If paid hourly, you work properly until your work is done.
LARPing your job is pretending to do it when you’re not. I don’t see how that is legit whether you’ve completed your project or you’re paid by the hour.
I don’t disagree with that. Definitely no to LARPing. However, I’m not sure it is LARPing if you are achieving outcomes and moving your time around. Key thing is outcome by deadline
I agree, it’s not LARPing if you are achieving outcomes and moving your time around; particularly if you are freelancer/contractor or some such.
But I specifically wasn’t speaking about that. The title, and the entire post, WAS about LARPing 😂😂
Of course. However -and it may be a surprise for me to be challenging the employers’ side in this conversation, I think we do need to challenge that. Yes “LARPING” exists but employers can be quick to see it where it is not there. Often the challenge with work form home is about the risks that employers don’t take their duties seriously and many workers end up working harder or longer if they work from home either completely or hybrid. Teaching obviously has long been hybrid and for every teacher who is out of the school gate and down the pub or on their Switch by 3:45 there are working late into the evening. Not disagreeing with you. Really encouraged that you are pushing thinking around Christian implications for this area. It’s worthy of further thought