Consider a person that never brushed their teeth, flossed, or used mouth wash for an entire year. On the night before their dentist appointment they finally decided it would be good to brush and floss. How would you describe that? Would it be fair to call it the bare minimum? After all, it is more than nothing.
Not a great comparison because work is a deal in exchange for money and tooth brushing isn’t a deal you make with anyone.
With employment, the outcome you want is likely continued employment and/or some sort of increase in power/pay/responsibilities/etc.
Can’t really tell which it is on behalf of someone else, but in the programming case, the company agreed to pay for work. Unless people were being fired left and right whose job it was to do the thing that was left undone then the company was satisfied with their output. You can tell because they kept paying them.
With teeth brushing the outcome you likely want is healthy teeth and gums and fresh breath. Brushing once a year the night before the dentist won’t likely get you to that outcome (but if it does then it is good enough).
