Not just American. I saw this taken to an art form in Japan.

While part is showing effort when individual output is hard to measure, the roots come from more than impressing the boss. It’s also respect to company and peers, and being available in case you’re needed by someone whose time is more scarce and expensive.

But FaceTime as the end result in a corporate culture is awful.

This is not an American culture. This is the nature of a human being.

As I’ve heard very similar anecdotes from friends and coworkers all around the world, I’m going to offer an alternative phrasing:

> Modern work culture, always trying to please the boss.

I think you can skip the bits about work, and modern:

> Culture: always trying to please the boss.

> Humans: Always trying to fool the boss.

More like humouring the delusions of people who don't know how to measure productivity.

Eh, tomato tomato.

Haha you should do some research on Japanese work culture and how it relates to leaving after the boss.

I've lived in Japan. You haven't. Americans are worse.

No, they're really not. You've probably worked at a company with an American culture, in Japan.

I'm fairly sure this is fairly universal. Even in socialist countries, your boss has enough power over you to do you harm.

Especially in socialist countries.

No, not especially: in socialist systems the power of individual workers is far greater, sometimes with bosses being directly chosen by their employees, or if not that, then stronger unions allow workers to enforce rules on things like their hours.