[gitmo]

Would she have preferred that he spend his time chatting up the receptionist or thinking about his job?

That might depend on what the position is for. If it involves interacting with the public, it would be an important factor.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

I would have to disagree.

I know several people who have a job interacting with the public and when they are on they are on. When they are not they will be polite but distant because being on is a major energy drain and they need to apply it to the job.