[serf]

that's absolutely un-true in nearly every field, even CS ones.

I don't even get the premise.

Your best effort doesn't require more .... effort ?

What kind of work is it that you do? I'd love to join.

If sitting around idly at low-paying jobs watching paint dry wasn't an easier way to achieve a paycheck than the hard work that the employer would prefer you to do then it wouldn't be the world's most common trope.