Possible Clues:

• Task or duty
• Worker admits messing around in job
• Broken-down gents is man's task
• Sounds like a warning from workers getting tense in one of The Projects
• Job is troubled with angst with chaps interrupting
• Duty to be done -- a hint intended to be listened to
• Worker admits messing about in task
• Task
• Worker receives small hint before note getting job
• In 'Gents' man is performing function