🧩 Shadow Task Quotient

📌 : “What you’re measuring isn’t always what they’re managing.”

📘 Definition Shadow Task Quotient refers to the proportion of unrecognized, unmeasured, or unofficial tasks that employees perform in addition to their defined job responsibilities. These tasks—like emotional labor, peer mentoring, admin work, or firefighting—often go unseen but consume significant time and energy.

🧬 Origin This term draws from systems thinking and invisible labor theory. It reflects how hidden work burdens contribute to burnout, inequity, and role ambiguity—especially in modern hybrid and high-autonomy workplaces.

📊 Benefits to the Organization

* Brings visibility to hidden workload and task creep

* Helps rebalance responsibilities and avoid burnout

* Informs more accurate workforce planning and resource allocation

* Strengthens performance reviews by acknowledging unseen contributions

* Enhances fairness, equity, and psychological safety

🧭 How HR Can Use It

* ✅ Audit roles for shadow work through surveys or diary studies

* ✅ Include shadow task awareness in manager training

* ✅ Build shadow task logs into performance or check-in systems

* ✅ Acknowledge emotional and invisible labor in recognition programs

* ✅ Use the quotient to advocate for support systems and workload recalibration

Created using ChatGPT by Dr. Vishal Verma

Regards

Dr. Vishal Verma