The author got the original statement backwards, partly because the original quote was confusing. From the Geohegan interview:
"Look at their productivity rates. They’re like ours. I think we understate our hours and they overstate them, because they take so much time off and sneak off early from work. If the productivity rates being reported are officially the same, and if they’re understating and we’re overstating, they’re probably working more efficiently than we are, and maybe the fact that they’re taking time off has something to do with that."
Sounds like Geohegan himself made a mistake in the second sentence, which could have led to the confusion.
"Look at their productivity rates. They’re like ours. I think we understate our hours and they overstate them, because they take so much time off and sneak off early from work. If the productivity rates being reported are officially the same, and if they’re understating and we’re overstating, they’re probably working more efficiently than we are, and maybe the fact that they’re taking time off has something to do with that."
Sounds like Geohegan himself made a mistake in the second sentence, which could have led to the confusion.