Keyboard jamming isn’t the real workplace problem – disengagement is

By Brad Batesole, Founding Partner of Madecraft

Keyboard jamming has been making headlines – employees using devices to simulate activity, creating an illusion of productivity while doing nothing at all. For some, this is shocking. For others, it was entirely predictable.

The real story isn’t the fraud itself. It’s why it’s happening at all. Employees don’t start their careers planning to fake work. They disengage gradually, when they feel invisible, undervalued, unchallenged or stuck. The companies making this worse are the ones asking how to catch people out rather than how to prevent disengagement in the first place. 

Why disengagement happens

Employees who feel like they’re growing don’t need to be watched. The opposite is also true: people who feel stuck will always check out, even if they’re still physically present. Research shows that helping people see the value in themselves and giving them ways to nurture it builds loyalty and engagement. Give employees a renewed and meaningful way to contribute, and even the most stagnant energy can turn around.

Where does the solution start? Learning and development.

The training paradox

Companies spend an average of £1,700 per employee each year on learning. Yet traditional training often misses the mark. Employees sit through marathon sessions that pull them away from their work. They complete tick-box compliance courses that feel like homework instead of development. The training exists, but it doesn’t connect to what employees actually need and want: relevant skills and personal career momentum.

This is where the link between training and engagement becomes clear. According to TalentLMS’s 2026 L&D Benchmark Report, 95% of HR managers agree that better training and skill development improves employee retention. Employees feel the same way, with 73% saying stronger learning and development opportunities would make them stay longer at their company.

Learning isn’t a nice-to-have anymore. Done properly, it shows people what they’re capable of and that changes everything about how engaged they feel.

What works instead

Effective training should fit into the flow of the day rather than interrupting it. Those ten minutes waiting for a meeting to start, two minutes during a coffee break, an hour freed up by a cancelled call. When learning slots naturally into these moments on pathways matched to individual ambition, completion rates transform.

The format matters too. Employees already carry earphones with them everywhere. Audio and video-based learning that mirrors how people consume content in their personal lives makes training accessible rather than a chore. Training that feels like discovery rather than a requirement drives engagement.

Organisations using microlearning report dramatic improvements in completion rates. That’s not incremental improvement, that’s transformation. Faster skill development means employees contribute more quickly. Higher completion rates mean organisations see return on the money allocated to each employee. And learning that fits into a standard day stops competing with productivity and enhances it.

Organisations using microlearning report dramatic improvements in completion rates with some suggesting an 80% completion rate, while conventional long-form courses manage only around 20%.

The fraud question

So, who’s really at fault in these keyboard jamming headlines? The employees finding something more valuable to do with their time? Or the organisations who let their talent stagnate? 

The truth is, everyone deserves better. 

Employees who keyboard jam aren’t the enemy. They’re a symptom of a deeper problem: workplaces that fail to offer growth, challenge or meaning. When people stop feeling stuck, engagement returns and keyboard jamming declines. When learning and development is done right, employees feel hope and optimism for their future. They see fresh opportunities in their roles. And organisations benefit too.

Moving forward

The good news is, disengagement is fixable. It doesn’t require surveillance software or monitoring tools. It requires investment in people. Organisations need to audit their current training honestly. Industry experts suggest that completion rates below 60% indicate that content is too long. If employees aren’t applying what they’ve learned, the training isn’t relevant.

The solution isn’t discipline. It’s positive. Give people learning that respects their time, builds real skills, and connects to their career progression. Make development visible and valued. When employees feel their growth is genuinely supported, they stay motivated, productive and loyal.

The keyboard jamming story is a mirror. It reflects back what organisations have built: workplaces where people feel disconnected enough to disengage entirely. The question isn’t how to catch the jammers. It’s how to build workplaces where people don’t want to jam in the first place.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this opinion piece are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Well Crowd. This content is for information and discussion purposes only and should not be taken as medical, health, or professional advice.