How to Detect and Prevent Ghostworking in Remote Teams

Remote work is here to stay — but so is ghostworking.

While asynchronous work has unlocked productivity and global talent access, it’s also created a blind spot: team members appearing active while delivering little or no actual output.

In this article, we’ll explore:

• What ghostworking is
• Why it happens
• How to spot it early
• And the tools and processes to prevent it

What Is Ghostworking?

Ghostworking refers to the act of pretending to work remotely, often by staying online in tools like Slack, Teams, or project dashboards, without delivering meaningful contributions.

Some typical signs include:

• Long “active” sessions without updates
• Repetitive status messages like “Still working on it”
• Delayed or vague communication
• No visible deliverables

In more extreme cases, ghostworkers might be freelancing for multiple clients during the same hours or delegating their work without disclosure.

Curious how automation can expose ghost activity? Check our guide to employee onboarding automation

Why Does It Happen?

It’s not always malicious. Often it’s the result of poor internal systems:

• No clear output-based KPIs
• Emphasis on presence over performance
• Lack of oversight or team structure
• Low engagement or job misfit

Without defined goals or daily accountability, ghostworking becomes easy — and hard to detect.

If you're scaling a team, consider building AI tools to track internal productivity.

How to Spot Ghostworking

You don’t need spyware or micromanagement to detect ghostworking. Instead, look for:

Inconsistent Output

Long hours but little results? A clear sign something’s off.

Avoids Sync Moments

Skipping calls, dodging check-ins, or being “too busy” for standups is often part of the pattern.

No Ownership

Ghostworkers avoid responsibility. They float between tasks but never close loops.

Excuses on Repeat

Delays with vague justifications like “waiting on someone” or “almost done” — with no actual output.

How to Prevent Ghostworking

Set Output-Based Goals

Don’t track hours. Track progress. Assign deliverables per week or sprint.

Use Async Standups

Use Slack bots or Make.com to collect async standups:

• What did you do yesterday?
• What’s your plan today?
• Any blockers?

You can automate this. Here’s how we use Make to automate workflows.

Use Transparent Tools

Adopt systems that show real contribution:

• Git for developers
• CMS logs for marketers
• CRM logs for sales
• Task boards for support

Peer Reviews and Pairing

Encourage cross-team checks. A little peer review keeps everyone engaged.

Scorecards or OKRs

Use OKRs or KPI dashboards for clarity. No more ambiguity around who’s performing.

Build Culture, Not Surveillance

The real fix? Better team culture:

• Reward output, not busyness
• Document processes
• Use automated onboarding
• Build trust via transparency

Not sure where to begin? Try our free AI website scan — it flags inefficiencies and AI opportunities.

Final Thought

Ghostworking is a silent killer in remote teams — but preventable.
Set clear outcomes. Build systems. Automate what’s repetitive.