Goldbricker

A 'goldbricker' is an individual who avoids work or shirks their responsibilities, often by feigning illness, exaggerating the difficulty of a task, or simply being lazy. The term originated in the military, where it described soldiers who tried to get out of duties. This person is skilled at appearing busy while actually accomplishing little. They are masters of deception, manipulating situations to their advantage and escaping actual labor. The goldbricker's primary objective is self-preservation, achieved by maximizing leisure and minimizing effort, regardless of the consequences for others.

Goldbricker meaning with examples

• During the project's crucial phase, several team members seemed to be goldbricking, leaving the bulk of the work to a few dedicated individuals. Their frequent 'emergencies' and lengthy breaks raised suspicion, slowing down progress and creating tension within the group. The supervisor finally confronted the goldbrickers after the missed deadline.
• The new employee quickly earned a reputation as a goldbricker. He was constantly taking extended lunch breaks and finding excuses to avoid any challenging tasks. His colleagues became increasingly resentful of his behavior, noticing his lack of productivity while their own workload was ever-growing as a result.
• In the military, a soldier accused of goldbricking tried to use various strategies to avoid field duties. He'd consistently report minor ailments or exaggerate the impact of harsh conditions. However, the commanding officer noticed his pattern and assigned him to a tougher role to combat the behavior.
• The goldbricker in the office constantly appeared engrossed in their work, but in reality, they were spending hours on personal calls and social media. They manipulated their workload by strategically making it seem like they had a lot to do. Eventually, their actions had a negative impact on the whole project.
• Despite the company's policy of rewarding productivity, the goldbricker cleverly managed to avoid showing their true low performance. They created an elaborate system of procrastination where every minor task took days to complete. Their deceit prevented anyone from accurately assessing the overall company workflow.