Honesty in this context simply means the two parties have agreed to play on the same field. E.g., pens and Post-Its are left in an unlocked supply closet with the understanding of “go ahead and take one or two home, but don’t go nuts.” Similarly, there’s a common expectation that you might have to leave early or use an office phone line to arrange for a child to be picked up from soccer practice. Or that you might stay on the toilet for longer than strictly necessary, in order to collect your thoughts.
And if you think that the majority of these employers — whose balance sheet’s rounding errors you evince such concern for — would hesitate for a second to screw you out of overtime, dump a pile into your inbox at 16:50 on a Friday, or have security escort you to the door with no severance package at the drop of a hat, you’ve had far more idyllic work environments than usual (By U.S. standards, which may not apply in other countries.)
This fake-compiling approach is a technological solution (make it look like the computer is doing stuff) to a social problem (my boss can only measure productivity in terms of minutes spent at my desk,) but maybe it’s not for the boss’ benefit: Maybe there are uptight clients prone to visit and wonder why someone is eating a danish in the break room instead of diligently working on our project goddamnit! If they’re assuaged by a progress bar and sent happily on their way, I would consider that a canonical example of the little white lie.
