The thing is, for management, they don't use the product or deal with reality, so for them, the JIRAs _are_ reality, and the more that get done, the better, and

The thing is, for management, they don't use the product or deal with reality, so for them, the JIRAs _are_ reality, and the more that get done, the better, and any gaps are a problem to be solved. Idle time can still be incorporated, it just has to be _in_ the tickets, not between the tickets, then everyone is happy. A ticket for one day to add a new button, then an idle day is bad. A ticket for two days to add a new button keeps everyone happy.