‘I usually work less than 1 hour a day’: Employee gets promoted for playing video games during work hours after convincing management he’s a top performer only by looking busy on office days

Author image for Etai Eshet
Etai Eshet • Editor
Dec 15, 2025 7:00 AM EST

It's common knowledge at this point that corporate life never fails to reward the wrong behaviors. Most of the time, we get stories that are pretty much infuriating, but this one is sort of the opposite because when someone learns how to rig the system and game their way to promotion, I for one think we should all cheer for that person.

So, after a messy reorganization splits the office dream team, one employee decides to stop trying altogether. Work from home becomes gaming from home, and quiet quitting turns into full-blown digital escapism. A single "catch-up day" handles two weeks of tasks, while the rest of the time goes to swapping spreadsheets for controller batteries. The result? A shocking career twist that proves effort and visibility have officially divorced.  

At home he's playing Balatro, running Ironman grinds with friends, and losing entire days to new releases without a moment of guilt. But on office days, he transforms into the model employee: well-dressed, charming, available for small talk, and pretending to type like productivity itself is contagious. Management eats it up. Efficiency looks identical to engagement when no one's actually tracking outcomes.  

The irony lands in the form of a promotion. new title, more money, and a glowing reputation as one of the team's best and brightest. Nothing changed except the attitude. The less he cares, the more they love him. It's not fraud, exactly, just a flawless demonstration of how office culture runs on perception, not performance. 

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  • I was promoted by playing video games instead of working

    Man celebrating excitedly while looking at his phone in a casual home office setup
    via Roman Samborskyi

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • Have been hybrid/work from home since 2020. Had a great team with a good manager but a nasty reorganization in Q1 this year split me up from the longest-tenured and most loyal team in our department.
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  • New leadership also announced full return to office in 2026. I decided to really phone it in and quiet quit around the summer as I lined up a new job.
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  • I usually wfh 3-4 days a week and only go into office on our 'team' days or when we have in- person client meetings which may be monthly or quarterly.
    via Wrong_Length_9742
  • When I'm in office I lock in 100% with a professional facade. I go full schmooze mode and make sure to be heard and seen and chat it up with coworkers (who I mostly like).
    via Wrong_Length_9742
  • I often do 'catch up' days where I'll do all my work for about 2 weeks in one day.
    via Wrong_Length_9742
  • On the flip side, while working from home, I usually work less than 1 hour a day, mostly just reading and responding to emails, sometimes in teams meetings.
    via Wrong_Length_9742
  • Man relaxing at his desk and smiling while playing on his phone in a casual office setting
    via Roman Samborskyi

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • I usually spend my days playing video games. I was addicted to Balatro in the summer and recently started a hardcore ironman with friends in OSRS.
    via Wrong_Length_9742
  • I have also been grinding Arc Raiders since release in October and I literally do not think about work on most work days outside of a few emails.
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  • My old manager before the reorg knew my work ethic, skills, and experience and would always go to bat for me.
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  • Despite this, I've been told upper management didn't think I was a good employee, etc. etc.
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  • I really just think it was office politics related because | cannot stress enough how much recognition I have been getting from upper management since the reorg and quiet quitting.
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  • I recently received an (albeit smaller) promotion and pay raise. The director thinks I am one of the best and brightest.
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  • I am well qualified and was a great employee before, but I am absolutely doing less than the bare minimum now.
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  • I know this isn't sustainable, mostly due to the return to office (my commute is going to force me to find something new) but Its just hilarious.
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  • It has really just helped me realize not to take work so seriously.
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  • Maybe the lesson is that trying too hard never paid off, or maybe it’s that the real fantasy world isn’t in the games, it’s in corporate management’s idea of who’s working. Either way, someone just leveled up for pressing start instead of answering emails, and that might be the most efficient thing they’ve ever done.

  • LolcatP very privileged, i wouldn't quit personally
    via Wrong_Length_9742
  • OP Wrong Length_9742 I can't do the commute with RTO, unfortunately. It won't be the same being back in office anyway.
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  • DamageFactory That sounds great man, but all good things come to an end! Hey, maybe you can find a new job where you can do the same. The most important tip I can give you is to give your bare minimum from the beginning!
    via Wrong_Length_9742
  • OP Wrong Length_9742 Thankfully, I have a good network that is helping me line something up that will be fully wfh in a better company. I have definitely learned a lot from this experience, despite the rapid decline in morale on the tail end.
    via Wrong_Length_9742
  • Doctorkynes OSRS is really the goat for doing nothing at work
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  • OP Wrong Length_9742 A lifesaver in teams meetings
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  • alexanderpas What is stated in your contract. If your contract lists you as remote, they can't change that without either your permission or terminating the contract, making you eligible for unemployment. Remember, you can negotiate for higher pay in exchange for RTO.
    via Wrong_Length_9742
  • OP Wrong Length_9742 It's not in the contract. I'm pretty sure the contract they use is the same from pre Covid times. It's just generic employment language that is almost entirely unrelated to the specific duties of the position. It doesn't mention remote work
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  • GreenEngrams Sounds like you should have completionist plus unlocked by now. Good luck with unlocking C++, I'm currently like 8 jonklers short on C++ myself
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  • OP Wrong Length_9742 I'm always going for dopamine hits trying to play straight flush, so I'm not quite there yet
    via Wrong_Length_9742
  • That-Currency-1039 I go full schmooze mode and make sure to be heard and seen and chat it up with coworkers (who I mostly like). I often do 'catch up' days where I'll do all my work for about 2 weeks in one day. Some might call it phoney. I don't go to work for friendship. Being personal and little small talk can go a long way.
    via Wrong_Length_9742
  • OP Wrong Length_9742 I do like several of my coworkers so that is genuine. It's moreso acting important and busy in team meetings that is phony, but effective
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  • LolcatP How did you do it pre wfh?
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  • OP Wrong Length_9742 I used to live closer. It was also actually fully wfh no requirement to be in office when I started. Moved last year and even got everything approved with HR that I would be mostly remote. New leadership has decided full RTO, no exceptions.
    via Wrong_Length_9742
  • Ninjaff This is the way. I did the "mad busy in the office once a week doing all my work" ruse for 4 years before getting a massive redundancy package. I was gutted and everyone at work thought it was because I loved the job and worked so hard. I nreality I knew I'd never have it so good again.
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  • -Accession- You're literally me rn Imaooo. Been wfh since 2020, worked hard when there was vision and clear business and then hit with major acquisition/reorgs/rolling layoffs to this day/fresh RTO mandate for January - I've been completely checked out for like 1.5 years playing vidya and producing music, getting along fine and collecting paycheck. None of my team is based where I RTO so gonna try and keep my corporate parasitism going cause FUCK work and FUCK corporate tech. It's all a bunch of
    via Wrong_Length_9742
  • StolenWishes I'm 62 and I've never had an employment contract - just offer letters.
    via Wrong_Length_9742

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workplace discussion employment issues boss workplace-stories work-life balance
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