What is busy work?

Busy work is a type of work that is done to pass time but has little to no actual value. This can be something that is given to an employee if there is little to be done. For example, an office employee may be asked to rearrange an old cabinet if work is slow that day, but the actual necessity of this is often very low.

Busy work is often given to students during different parts of their day. If a student finishes a test early, they may be given a worksheet to complete that is never graded or matters. It is solely used to be a way to pass the time while others complete their work.