What are they getting paid to do?

Have you ever ______ at work? (WFH doesn't count)

My '91 Civic has a rough idle when the headlamps are on. Voltage across the battery terminals when the engine is running is 12.9 volts. Alternator going bad, or loose connection(s) somewhere?

I work for a major lithium company, and a large part of sales are driven by EV uptake, especially in Europe (due to emission requirements), and this year–to a lesser extent–in the US due to a scramble to buy EVs before tax credits expire. Both are artificial demand driven by government intervention. Now the UK is announcing this. 😬

I have a few friends who work for the federal government. I've asked them all, "Why are you still working without pay?" And the responses I've gotten are: "It's easier to just keep working than play catch up when we start getting paid again." "I have a tenuous grasp on a GS-14 position, if I stop working then I'll lose it."