makework
Tasks without purpose
Makework is work created primarily to keep people busy rather than to accomplish something useful.
It often appears in employment contexts where eliminating positions would be politically difficult or where idle workers look bad: The project was pure makework—nobody needed those reports.
Government programs and bureaucracies are frequent targets of makework accusations.
Hard, boring work
- gruntworkMenial, tedious tasks
- fillerSubstance closing gaps
- fluffLight, soft fibers
- triviaUnimportant miscellaneous facts
chores · tasks · assignments · exercises · menial · routine · treadmill · slog
Incapable of producing results
- pointlessLacking any purpose
- fruitlessProducing no useful outcome
- uselessWithout practical value
- worthlessLacking any value
meaningless · unproductive · ineffective · empty · hollow · vain · purposeless · wasteful
Unchangingly dull
- repetitiveMarked by recurrence
- tiresomeCausing boredom or annoyance
- boringFailing to engage interest
- dullLacking edge or interest
mind-numbing · uninspiring · wearisome · laborious · plodding · unstimulating · unrewarding · unfulfilling
Administrative written tasks
- complianceAdhering to requirements
- procedurePrescribed sequence of actions
- protocolPrescribed conduct rules
- formalityStrict observance of convention
filing · documentation · administration · clerical · regulation · officialdom · governmental · institutional
drudgery
Hard, boring work
trivia · chores · tasks · assignments · exercises · menial · routine · treadmill · slog · pointless
futile
Incapable of producing results
worthless · meaningless · unproductive · ineffective · empty · hollow · vain · purposeless · wasteful · unnecessary
monotonous
Unchangingly dull
- repetitiveMarked by recurrence
- tiresomeCausing boredom or annoyance
- boringFailing to engage interest
dull · mind-numbing · uninspiring · wearisome · laborious · plodding · unstimulating · unrewarding · unfulfilling · soul-crushing
paperwork
Administrative written tasks
- complianceAdhering to requirements
- procedurePrescribed sequence of actions
- protocolPrescribed conduct rules
formality · filing · documentation · administration · clerical · regulation · officialdom · governmental · institutional · audit
makeworkmeaningful work
Labor with significance
productive labor · skilled labor · urgent tasks · creative work
make, work, makes, made, making, maker, makers, remake, remade