Ghostworking? Give Me a Break.

Here we go again.

First it was quiet quitting. Then it was bare minimum Mondays. Now we’ve hit a new low: “ghostworking.”

Forbes’ definition of ghostworking: pretending to work while doing little to no meaningful work.

Have we really reached the point of zero shame?

When Bare Minimum Mondays started trending, I felt compelled to respond. I proposed an alternative (Max Out Mondays) not because I love hustle culture, but because I believe in solving problems constructively. Max Out Mondays was about redistributing energy — start Sunday evening with 45 minutes of planning or light work to relieve pressure on Monday, creating breathing room without sacrificing performance. It was a way to push back on burnout without totally checking out. A defense against disengagement, if you will.

But ghostworking isn’t a cry for balance. It’s a different beast — and frankly, it’s a perversion of the work contract. A decent manager can spot a ghostworker a mile away. Hours logged and presence indicators say one thing. Results say something very different. We see you.

And here’s the kicker: with GenAI now mainstream, the whole charade becomes even more absurd. If your job is just pushing pixels and you’re faking it, you’re on borrowed time. ChatGPT and tools like it can draft, organize, plan, even code — faster than you can fake an Excel spreadsheet. If you’re “pretending to type” (really?) while avoiding all real contributions, you’ll be exposed. Not because someone rats you out, but because your work will be indistinguishable from inactivity. AI never needs a coffee break.

That’s the irony: the same tech that’s exposing ghostworkers is also empowering the rest of us. Used right, GenAI lets you automate the grind and reinvest your energy where it actually matters.

So if you’re using AI to take the grunt work off your plate so you can focus on higher-leverage tasks, good on you. I’m not here to scold that, I’m here to salute it. There’s no shame in working smarter instead of harder, especially when the tools are finally good enough to help.

This is why ghostworking is so frustrating to watch. You chose to come to work. Someone chose you to represent the company. There was trust involved. When you blatantly disregard that, sympathy goes out the window.

But let me be clear — the solution isn’t just to grind harder. If you’re disillusioned, there are better moves than hiding in plain sight.

Start by talking to someone in your company doing something you admire. Ask them how they got into that role. Offer to help with a project outside your silo. It could lead somewhere new, or at least spark some curiosity again.

Can’t find anything interesting internally? Use your time after hours to make a plan. Update your resume. Take a free course. Ask ChatGPT to simulate interview questions or suggest new roles based on your experience. There are ways to pivot, even if they take time.

And if you’re just burned out? Be honest about it. Raise your hand. Most reasonable managers will appreciate your transparency and help you find a solution before it spirals into disengagement. Quiet rebellion doesn’t help anyone. Least of all, you.

Maybe I’m oversimplifying or being too crass. I get that not everyone has the luxury to chase passion projects or walk away from jobs they hate. And sure, some days are just a slog — that’s part of the deal. Nobody expects 40 hours of euphoric flow state. But in a landscape where AI is now the competition, coasting is no longer the safe middle ground it once was. It’s the red flag that sticks out above all else.

If you’re stuck, say so. If you want out, make a plan and make it known. Just don’t ghost us.

We notice.