Worship.

The Spanish conquered South America and deliberately built their churches over the pagan temples to wipe out the indigenous religions. They were pleased when they saw powerful evidence of success in evangelising the Mixe Indians of modern day Mexico.

The Indians regularly attended Mass in the churches that the Spaniards built and worshipped reverently at the foot of the altars with the devotion of the most devout Catholic.

It wasn't until hundreds of years later when Archeologists began to excavate some of the sites of the churches that the truth was discovered. They found that the Mixe had buried their pagan idols beneath the crucifixes and altars.

The Indians had been worshipping their own deities under pretence of devotion to their conquerer's God.

Now THAT'S a metaphor for a workplace.

Management smiles at the upturned faces of the workers assembled at the staff meetings and strategic planning retreats. It hands out butchers paper and marker pens like wafers and wine. It is pleased as it watches the workers genuflect before the wise and just policies/visions/mission statements/strategic plan. 

In reality, all the authentic conversations have gone underground.

Personal Widgets lie buried beneath the company's glossy altars of annual reports.

Management thinks that workers are bowing in reverence before their gods of enterprise, productivity and the PowerPoint slide icons.

In reality they're kneeling for the blessing of the payroll clerk and praying for the weekend.