>Office work is increasingly just adult daycare much of the time. Even in manufacturing I'm seeing more folks killing time in rest areas or meeting rooms becaus

>Office work is increasingly just adult daycare much of the time. Even in manufacturing I'm seeing more folks killing time in rest areas or meeting rooms because the work is getting done faster (but they're not going to say so and get laid off for doing a good job) This brings up a good point, one I have observed myself. That efficiency is ultimately punished, not rewarded. I think the term office politics should have been a signal of this, but it alluded me for a number of years while I was building my career. Once I slowed down and started to be a little more performative, only then did the promotions start coming in. The only logical reason I can track is that its because in the act of slowing down and being more performative, is that I started talking more with others in the company up and down the hierarchy and became known as a do good affable guy (which admittedly, I actually am!) In short, people like me and that matters alot, and my actual performance beyond being slightly better than my peers, mattered little. Yet, me being personable - and I don't mean simply courteous, on time, using good verbal language etc but more akin to befriending - is what paid the dividends for my career. This runs directly counter to what is supposedly valued[0]. [0]: Let me be clear here, I'm not saying people who are productive but mean, grumpy and don't work well with others shouldn't have that taken into account. There is at least some minimum of good social courtesy and discourse required, especially when working with others. I'm talking about how pseudo friendship is valued in and above being productive, while someone with good social graces and metrics (quality work etc) but doesn't network consistently does worse