This is horrific, inefficient and stupid. Multiple speculative causes: - Social pressure. The bosses want to be able to say "look at how hard I can make my wo

This is horrific, inefficient and stupid. Multiple speculative causes: - Social pressure. The bosses want to be able to say "look at how hard I can make my workers work", probably without comparing productivity in any way - Social pressure. People competing with each other for how hard working they are. This seems prevalent in many cultures. "Oh I am so tired / stressed". When you claim those things, you can stop worrying about other issues, like doing good work. I have always noticed that the busier I appear, the less people would hold me to account for problems. Ridiculous. - A tired / overworked populace doesn't have the energy to get any revolutionary ideas. The status quo is maintained, no matter what the cost. This suits almost nobody, other than a select few. But, we do it to ourselves. Like the herd of bison running from the lion, we do not realise our power and instead accept whatever the oppressors (companies) force on us. So, we made our bed and are lying in it. No point complaining unless we are willing to do something about it. See points 1 and 2, this has never been about productivity.