66% of Americans confess to this workplace sin
Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. (Colossians 3:22)
A 2026 report from Software Finder found that 66% of employees and 73% of managers in the U.S. are faking productivity at work.
Maybe you’ve been guilty of this by leaving Slack open so it looks like you’re working when you’re actually watching Netflix or playing with your kids—then running back to your laptop every few minutes to swipe the trackpad so the green dot indicating you’re “active” doesn’t turn yellow.
Given the data above and the fact that roughly 60% of Americans claim to be Christians, I think Colossians 3:22 may be one of the most frequently disobeyed biblical commands for modern workers: To serve employers “not only when their eye is on you…with sincerity of heart.”
But Jordan, my boss is the worst and expects me on call at all hours. I hear you. And I’m sorry. I’ve had bosses like that too. But unless an employer asks you to violate God’s commands, you are to serve them wholeheartedly, because ultimately “it is the Lord Christ you are serving” (Colossians 3:24).
That doesn’t mean you must stay in a crappy job (see 1 Corinthians 7:21). But until you leave, the command applies.
Think you’re immune from the temptation to slack when your employer’s eye isn’t on you? Here are three common ways believers break this command.
#1: Faking productivity. See above.
#2: Checking social media (or doing laundry) while in a Zoom meeting where you’ve been asked to be fully engaged—explicitly or implicitly.
#3: Using your employer’s time and/or tools to work on your side hustle or job search when nobody is watching.
If any of these feel like I’m reading your mail, it’s only because I’ve been guilty of every one of them at some point in my career. If you feel convicted, take heart: “there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). But his forgiveness and kindness should lead us to repentance (Romans 2:4).
So repent with me today. Define one action you can take to remove temptation. While writing this devotional, I was convicted of #2 on the list above. So I took 30 seconds to set Zoom to go full screen whenever I join a meeting. Now the temptation to check email is gone before the meeting starts.
Do whatever it takes to show your employer “all honor, so that the name of God and the teaching may not be reviled” (1 Timothy 6:1). As God’s ambassador, how you work when nobody is watching will either reflect him or give others reason to revile him. Reflect him well today.
