Sarcasm is an adjusted stress reaction.

Typists get paid per hour and then an "incentive" depending on speed, but you don't get the incentive for hours you're not actually typing normal work - breaks, admin, bad audio (slow typing) etc means you get paid less. So if she was on admin duties all the time, they wouldn't actually cut her pay, they just wouldn't give her the incentive.

Basically it's yet another way of them nickel-and-diming staff. I continue to be glad I left that place, although sad to leave Liz to the wolves there.