The Viral TikTok Video and the Hidden Struggles of Remote Work
A recent TikTok video has gone viral, capturing the attention of millions with its humorous take on the challenges of remote work. The clip, created by @bakingandbooks, showcases a simple yet relatable scenario: someone walking into a room, glancing at their laptop screen, and then leaving. The accompanying text reads, “How I walk into my office to check that I’m still active on Teams.” This short video has sparked a wave of engagement, with over 1.2 million views and 174,000 likes since it was posted on June 13.
The video resonates with many remote workers who have experienced the pressure to maintain an “active” status on Microsoft Teams. Viewers in the comments section shared their own creative methods to simulate busyness while working from home. Some mentioned using mouse jigglers or timing keyboard taps perfectly, while others pointed out that this behavior stems from a deeper anxiety tied to the visibility of one’s online presence.
Radvile Sliogeryte, a talent acquisition specialist, noted that while most managers are aware of these tricks, the focus should be on what employees actually accomplish rather than whether they are sitting at their desks all day. Her perspective is welcomed by those whose habits mirror the humor in the TikTok video.
One viewer commented, “And you wonder why companies are going back to the office.” This sentiment reflects the growing frustration among remote workers who feel the need to constantly prove their productivity through performative check-ins.
Sliogeryte emphasized that taking short breaks to stretch, walk, or simply look out the window is not only healthy but also beneficial for productivity. Both managers and employees should view these pauses as an essential part of the workday rather than something to hide.
Christina Muller, a licensed workplace mental health expert, explained that the expectation to be “always on” became more prevalent during the early days of the pandemic when remote work became the norm. Many employees felt pressured to show they were productive, even if they weren’t actively working. This led to situations where people could be browsing LinkedIn or looking up recipes while their green light stayed active on Teams.
This discrepancy has contributed to increased burnout, according to Muller. She suggests that leaders can help by encouraging microbreaks throughout the day, such as stretching or grabbing a cup of tea. Research shows that our brains need breaks to process and integrate information effectively, and without them, mistakes, reduced creativity, and lower-quality work may occur.
While the video is amusing, many workers find themselves caught between wanting to preserve their autonomy and fearing that any moment offline could be interpreted as disengagement. Viewers shared various tips on how to appear online while working from home without having actual tasks to keep them engaged. One suggested buying a mouse mover on Amazon, while another joked about checking in on a fake call with themselves that had been going on for four hours.
Another tip involved opening a Teams chat with oneself, selecting the chatbox as if typing, and pressing the spacebar to prevent going offline. These strategies highlight the lengths some workers go to maintain the illusion of being busy.
Some viewers took a different approach, stating, “I’ve straight up set my status to permanently offline.” Others criticized Teams as “the biggest corporate bootlicker,” reflecting the frustration many feel about the constant need to prove presence.
Muller emphasized that people naturally do not want to feel micromanaged. When leaders provide more autonomy, employees are less likely to feel the need to game the system. For Sliogeryte, the issue goes beyond just work tools and screen time. She noted that feeling constant guilt about stepping away and needing to “pretend” are signs of fear, which may indicate that the job or company culture is not the right fit.
The video has sparked a broader conversation about the challenges of remote work and the pressures of maintaining an online presence. As companies continue to navigate the evolving landscape of work, finding a balance between productivity and well-being remains crucial.
