In the first episode of the current season of Better Call Saul[1], one of the main characters exploited this phenomenon to carry out a full-scale social engineering attack on a warehouse. After gaining entry with a (stolen) ID, all he needed to get the workers to follow his orders was to drive around while wearing a high-vis vest and taking notes on a clipboard. It highlighted to great effect the problems of conditioning alienated workers in regimented hierarchies to follow orders from anyone who just looks and acts like a "boss".

[1] https://www.amc.com/shows/better-call-saul/extras/better-cal...

thanks, I need to start watching that show again :)

You should join them instead - it is an excellent work avoidance tactic ;-)

I swear the clipboard folks at that company did nothing productive ever.

At another place I had some sit next to me for a while due to construction at the company ... it was months of nothing productive, just nothing. I was a little shocked, I mean I assumed, but when you see it, it is amazing.

It seems like such a small thing, but it wears on you.

Clipboard... Time to lawyer up.