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fake work

[/feɪk wɜːrk/]
nounpl: fake work (uncountable)
trabalho falso; trabalho simulado
1. Work that appears to be productive or useful but provides little to no actual value or progress toward organizational goals
The manager realized much of the reporting was just fake work that didn't improve operations.
O gerente percebeu que muito do relatório era apenas trabalho simulado que não melhorava as operações.
2. Tasks or activities performed to appear busy or productive without meaningful output
Attending unnecessary meetings and sending redundant emails is often considered fake work.
Participar de reuniões desnecessárias e enviar e-mails redundantes é frequentemente considerado trabalho falso.
3. Busywork; activities that consume time but add no real value
The company cut through the fake work and focused on what truly mattered.
A empresa eliminou o trabalho improdutivo e se concentrou no que realmente importava.
NYC Slang
busywork; make-work; padding
Synonyms
busyworkmake-workunproductive workuseless activity
Antonyms
productive workmeaningful workvaluable workreal work

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
trabalho falso; trabalho improdutivo
Most common usage in business contexts
Rio de Janeiro
trabalho de fachada
Colloquial expression emphasizing superficial appearance
São Paulo
atividade improdutiva; trabalho simulado
Corporate and business environment usage
Portugal
trabalho fantasma; trabalho de faz-de-conta
Less common; more informal Portuguese usage

Related Idioms & Phrases

spinning your wheels
going through the motions
look busy
meeting for a meeting's sake
check the box
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