Tell me more ×
English Language & Usage Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for linguists, etymologists, and serious English language enthusiasts. It's 100% free, no registration required.
up vote -2 down vote favorite
1

For example:

The unreliable employee often engaged in __ activities like smoke breaks, smalltalk with his fellows, and playing Solitaire during work hours.

On Friday afternoons, the employees would often goof off and perform __ activities.

Fred's mind often wandered while performing menial tasks and he thought about __ activities he would rather be doing.

Best candidates so far:

counter-productive/non-productive/unproductive

unprofessional (?)

Bonus: Come up with a word that eliminates the need for the word activity altogether:

The project will not get finished any sooner if you keep wasting time on __.

share|improve this question
7  
"He was engaged in a StackExchange activity." – Robusto Nov 28 '12 at 19:57
@Robusto: ! One could press non-task-oriented into use. – Edwin Ashworth Nov 28 '12 at 20:07
What's wrong with "distractions" (or "distracting activities")? – J.R. Nov 28 '12 at 21:18
@J.R., can distracting be used as an adjective? – Michael Goldshteyn Nov 28 '12 at 21:22
4  
i would argue that I'm just (if not more) productive than other workers, even though I do go out for a smoke and occasionally engage is smalltalk. Your language smells of stalinist management unless you start being a lot clearer. Most adjectives that come up in such situations only highlight a prejudice and dislike for the employee, rather than being accurate descriptors. Thus, avoid them mostly. You could say instead that the employee often instigates in non-work related conversations which is time wasteful for all concerned. A certain amount of sociability is required for humans to function. – Chris Nov 28 '12 at 23:58
show 2 more comments

closed as not constructive by tchrist, J.R., cornbread ninja 麵包忍者, MετάEd, Kris Nov 29 '12 at 7:37

As it currently stands, this question is not a good fit for our Q&A format. We expect answers to be supported by facts, references, or specific expertise, but this question will likely solicit debate, arguments, polling, or extended discussion. If you feel that this question can be improved and possibly reopened, see the FAQ for guidance.

6 Answers

up vote 1 down vote accepted

Use counter-productive with activity. It's professional and fits all of your examples.

For a noun: Shenanigans. "We might go home early if there aren't any more shenanigans around the water cooler this afternoon.

Shenanigans: high-spirited or mischievous activity —usually used in plural

share|improve this answer
That certainly fits the bill. – Michael Goldshteyn Nov 28 '12 at 19:51
2  
or "non-productive" – Charles Nov 28 '12 at 20:34
up vote 3 down vote

I would refer to activities at work that aren't work-related as slacking

slack: To evade work; shirk.

share|improve this answer
The word needs to be usable as an adjective in front of the word activity. – Michael Goldshteyn Nov 28 '12 at 19:44
up vote 1 down vote

How about some of these options:

Often engaged in diddle-daddle like smoke breaks...

Often engaged in procrastination like smoke breaks...

Often engaged in fritter like smoke breaks...

Often engaged in trifles like smoke breaks...

Often engaged in vacuities like smoke breaks...

Often engaged in trifles like smoke breaks...

Often engaged in fluff like smoke breaks...

share|improve this answer
up vote 0 down vote

A related term (that doesn't cover all you've asked for) is government work. From wiktionary (emphasis added):

When something was “good enough for Government work” it meant it could pass the most rigorous of standards. Over the years it took on an ironic meaning that is now the primary sense, referring to poorly executed work.

“Government work” is also a term for the manufacture of something on company time for personal use. For example, a custom trailer hitch made at a welding shop for the welder himself on the afternoon shift with no supervisors around is government work.

share|improve this answer
up vote 0 down vote

I'd go with "unproductive activities" or even "unauthorized activities".

share|improve this answer
So close and yet so far... – Michael Goldshteyn Nov 28 '12 at 21:06
@MichaelGoldshteyn, care to elaborate? – TecBrat Nov 30 '12 at 14:44
up vote 0 down vote

You could use personal or time-wasting as your adjective.

share|improve this answer

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.