What is multi-shirking?

Answer 1

Multi-shirking, multi shirking or multishirking, is a newish and contemporary word, invented during latter part of the 21st century. This word "must" have come out of then new, and phenomenal multi tasking power of Microsoft brand of windows 3.X computers, to be able to open few screens doing different tasks at the same time . Also must have stemmed from the well known ability of women to do many chores at the same time. "But" as opposed to multi tasking which is all in a good day of work, positive and efficient, it's a naughty act of being at work, and not doing what one is supposed to be concentrating on, but going off in a tangent, and doing other self satisfying chores. Example: opening an excel work sheet, and opening another screen from train spotting or wool knitting site.

I heard it the first time, while at work, fixing the EPOS systems of a pub, some where in an absolutely picturesque part of west London. I was coming out of the pub, and down the stairs, to go to my car to bring some parts back inside, when I met a man, a bit thin and frail, coming up the 6 flights of stairs, severely out of breath, to go inside.

As we met each other crossing on the stony stairs, the man, in an old manner of polite Londoners said "Good afternoon" and I replied back accordingly. I guess he must have recognised that I was an engineer fixing the tills, in my shirt and tie, as he said "No multi-shirking I hope!" My ears pricked up in response to the brand new word, and I exclaimed, "Multi-shirking?!"

He then went on elaborating much(just the way that I am doing now!), explaining his unfortunate faith of being waiting on a list, for a heart swap, and then going on to explaining how he used to multi-shirk while at work before, when he was healthy and working as a computer programmer. "Always having another task screen hidden on the PC" he said. He went on "As soon as the boss went a way, I clicked back to my personal chore". The word stuck in my mind indelibly, as it will stick to your's now that I have explained it to you in 3D. That is if you have managed to stay awake till now.

Also, graveyard security guards playing videogames and doing homework rather than focusing on the duty at hand. Professional multishirkers are a legion in night security and many while being paid seemingly low wages actually make money online answering surveys etc, writing research papers for college students, etc.