How do people get stuff done at 8am-5pm office jobs?

I’m a part-time data analyst for a large consulting firm and I’m seriously struggling to comprehend how my colleagues produce work. I see my director side-by-side with her assistant and they literally stare at their chats and email all day. I can see our project lead sitting next to me taking clients on calls for hours and not moving or doing anything but emailing and calling.<br><br>The company managers will message you during the workday and be like “What are you doing today?” And you’re like “This report is taking me hours” and they’re like “That’s good, I’m glad you’re working hard. There’s a lot more to come.” It’s just confusing to me bc I genuinely don’t believe any of them are actually working. I’m new to this company so I’m biased, I know. But I can’t imagine there being a huge difference. I’ve worked in my previous two offices and I’ve witnessed this. I feel like I’m just taking up a chair when I’m sitting there. Sometimes I’m sitting there literally just staring at a piece of paper on my desk. Nothing to do. <br><br>My department is the only department that actually produces a product (in my opinion) and I don’t get how we have enough employees hired for this department if everyone in the firm isn’t even working. Anytime I’m done with work I get up and walk around or go to the gym and people are just sitting there at their desks doing nothing. Am I crazy? Do people just not know how to be productive? I feel like I’m going crazy in this environment. I don’t get it.