'I couldn't figure out why I hated my coworker. Then I learnt about task-masking.'

I used to work with someone who I couldn't stand. And I mean, really couldn't stand.

We had the exact same job, we were friendly and even got along at after-work drinks. However, in the workplace, at our desks, I couldn't stand her. And I had no idea why.

Was it her personality? No, we actually clicked when we weren't discussing work. Was it because she was more successful than me? Nope, we were literally on the same level.

For months, I genuinely thought I was the problem. Maybe I was just being irrationally b*tchy? (It happens to the best of us.)

Then... I found out about task-masking.

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Suddenly, everything made sense. Thinking back on when I worked with her, she was a grade A task-masker. She never completed any actual work yet would constantly complain about how busy she was. I knew she wasn't because we did the exact same job. The difference was I actually did mine.

If you're wondering what task masking is, it's essentially the art of appearing busy without actually accomplishing anything significant. It's like when you pretend to clean your room by just shoving everything under the bed— except it's your entire professional identity.

My colleague had mastered every trick in the task-masking handbook. She made a big show and told everyone about how many meetings she had. She'd sigh loudly at her desk, she'd have her computer on full volume so everyone could hear her slack notifications come in, she would RUN to meetings, the kitchen, the bathroom even though there was absolutely no need to (although, I don't think people willingly run to bathrooms, so that one instance might've been legit).

As employers crack down on hybrid work and more people come back into offices, task masking is reportedly becoming more common. It makes sense — when you work from home, nobody cares if you're walking around looking busy. They only care about what you produce. But in an office with constant supervision? The performance becomes the job.

Fortune describes it as "going the extra mile to look like they're working hard while actually hardly working." Classic examples include moving quickly through the office while carrying a laptop (bonus points if you look stressed), typing loudly, and engaging in work-related conversations at a slightly higher decibel than the average speaking tone whenever the boss walks by.

My colleague was a master at the dramatic sigh. She'd exhale so loudly that I genuinely wondered if she had a medical condition. "Ugh, I'm SO swamped," she'd announce to absolutely no one who asked.

Meanwhile, I'd watch her calendar (we could see each other's schedules) suddenly fill up with vague meetings like "Client call" or "Project review" that mysteriously never seemed to involve any actual clients or projects because… our job didn't entail having to deal with clients or projects.

The worst part? It worked. Our boss thought she was killing it while I was quietly getting my actual work done without the theatrics. She got praised for her "hustle" while I got asked if I could take on some of her tasks because she was "so busy."

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It's not just annoying to witness— task masking creates a weird workplace culture where appearing productive becomes more valued than actual productivity. It's exhausting for everyone involved, including the task-masker who has to maintain the charade all day.

My unpopular opinion is that if they just did their work, they'd probably use less energy than they spend pretending to work. When I finally realised what was happening, I felt both validated and frustrated. It also explained why we got along fine at Friday drinks— she wasn't performing anymore.

If you've got a colleague who's always catastrophically "busy" yet mysteriously produces zero work, you might be dealing with a task-masker. And if you find yourself sighing dramatically whenever someone walks by your desk, maybe it's time to ask yourself if you're becoming one too.

Now excuse me while I aggressively type this conclusion to make it look like I'm working really hard on something important.

If you want more from Emily Vernem, you can follow her on Instagram @emilyvernem.

Feature image: Canva.