'Penned' tech specialists are earning six-figure salaries to 'do nothing' and string out 10-minute tasks. Some are even using the time to scuba dive.

The article discusses a hiring trend known as "penning," where tech specialists are employed by major industries like banking and telecommunications but often find themselves with little to no work to do. Emmanuel Maggiori, an A.I. specialist, shares his experiences of being underutilized in various roles, highlighting a culture of "task bloating" and a lack of proactive engagement among employees. Data from the 2022 DORA State of DevOps report indicates a rise in low performers in the software sector, with many employees reporting minimal productive hours. The article suggests that this phenomenon may stem from complex onboarding processes and a desire among companies to maintain large teams for metrics, leading to feelings of boredom and demotivation among workers. [Extracted from the article]