Anonymous
Post 08/28/2025 09:42     Subject: Re:I don't know how my neighbors have jobs - they take so many days off
There was a book written about these types of jobs:



So many of these people WFH in upper NW DC, Bethesda, Great Falls, Potomac, etc.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bullshit_Jobs
Anonymous
Post 08/28/2025 09:39     Subject: I don't know how my neighbors have jobs - they take so many days off
Sales. These guys sit on the phone at home and then wine/dine/play golf with clients in the middle of the day. Once they make the sale, the client is handed off to accounts receivable/lawyers to handle the paperwork aspects and actual transaction.

White dudes in sales literally do 5 hours of actual real work per week.
Anonymous
Post 08/28/2025 09:36     Subject: I don't know how my neighbors have jobs - they take so many days off
I work 10 hour days so I have every Friday off. I work 6-4, so you likely don't see that I'm working 10 hours.

Every week is a 3 day weekend. Some weeks I take 4 day weekends (work M-Th first week, T-F the second week) and it uses no leave.
Anonymous
Post 08/28/2025 09:20     Subject: Re:I don't know how my neighbors have jobs - they take so many days off
I think you may be underestimating how many bosses simply do NOT care or monitor. I am one. Especially in todays hybrid work from home model I almost have to turn my eye to get/keep good ppl. If you are on top of your shit, log in when I need you, and your work is done…no questions asked…ever.
Anonymous
Post 08/28/2025 09:13     Subject: I don't know how my neighbors have jobs - they take so many days off
At my company we immediately get 8 weeks of leave (not divided into sick, holidays, and vacation). You can use it whenever, but the catch is that if you don't use it you get paid annually for not taking it. Some people prefer to hoard cash. Some people go all the way up to the 8 weeks.
Anonymous
Post 08/28/2025 09:11     Subject: I don't know how my neighbors have jobs - they take so many days off
My husband takes off whenever he wants. I honestly have no idea how much leave he technically has. He’s been at the job less than a year. He’s C level and has an entire team under him. He was recruited for this job

Just because he’s out of town/out of the office doesn’t mean he’s not working. If you are really good at your job there are perks.
Anonymous
Post 08/28/2025 09:05     Subject: I don't know how my neighbors have jobs - they take so many days off
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:25 days off this year - 3/4 into the year - is 5 weeks. If they get 6 weeks of vacation that makes sense because there are only three months left and spring break and summer break are over and lots of holidays are coming up. If they get 7-8 weeks of vacation that's about right in terms of spacing. Some people do get that much vacation.

And if they can WFH, sometimes it looks like someone if "off" when really they're just taking a walk in between calls or running to the store.

I have a FT job an you can catch me in yoga pants at 10am or 2pm a lot during the week in my yard or neighborhood. Believe me, I work A LOT.

My husband often doesn't take off when we travel. He works from family's houses or sometimes on shorter vacations (like short beach trips).


Is it finance that gets 8 weeks off a year? Or another industry? Govies only get 5, and they are touted as getting too much leave.

40 days sounds insane, most companies I’ve worked at had a hard cap.


Govies get 5 weeks after 15 years! You start with 13 days. I'm 11 years in at 4 weeks.

I'd love to move to one of these companies with more generous leave. More important to me that money. But instead when I'm applying I'm seeing everyone starting with 10 days, which is...pretty bad.
Anonymous
Post 08/28/2025 07:50     Subject: I don't know how my neighbors have jobs - they take so many days off
People could say that about us.

My husband works for a Swedish company and gets 25 vacation days, 10 sick days, and 14 holidays. Additonally 80% of his company is off in August so the whole month is very quiet for him.

I work in sales remotely and my calendar is my own to book and my company doesn't care as long as I'm bringing in enough revenue. We travel a lot but I rarely actually take days off, I just juggle things around or keep up on the go.
Anonymous
Post 08/28/2025 07:49     Subject: I don't know how my neighbors have jobs - they take so many days off
Lots of companies don't count PTO at all. Capital One is a big one around here. Of course you have to produce and you are monitored, but there are trade offs.
Anonymous
Post 08/28/2025 07:47     Subject: I don't know how my neighbors have jobs - they take so many days off
Anonymous wrote:My European counterparts have easily taken 25 days off so far this year alone. often in 15 business day chunks in summer. I think it's wonderful and you should MYOB.


I agree. It's sad how Americans put up with getting just two weeks off for so much of their career. We are treated so badly (expensive healthcare, very little vacation, numerous layoffs or worry about layoffs, no medical insurance if we are laid off...).

Anonymous
Post 08/28/2025 07:41     Subject: I don't know how my neighbors have jobs - they take so many days off
Many companies like the PE firm have generous leave, but flip side on days you do work you put in 10-11 hours and there is no overtime or comp time.
Anonymous
Post 08/28/2025 07:39     Subject: I don't know how my neighbors have jobs - they take so many days off
Agree you should talk to them. You seem very invested in their personal lives, so I’m sure you’d hit it off.
Anonymous
Post 08/28/2025 07:38     Subject: I don't know how my neighbors have jobs - they take so many days off
Anonymous wrote:25 days off this year - 3/4 into the year - is 5 weeks. If they get 6 weeks of vacation that makes sense because there are only three months left and spring break and summer break are over and lots of holidays are coming up. If they get 7-8 weeks of vacation that's about right in terms of spacing. Some people do get that much vacation.

And if they can WFH, sometimes it looks like someone if "off" when really they're just taking a walk in between calls or running to the store.

I have a FT job an you can catch me in yoga pants at 10am or 2pm a lot during the week in my yard or neighborhood. Believe me, I work A LOT.

My husband often doesn't take off when we travel. He works from family's houses or sometimes on shorter vacations (like short beach trips).


Is it finance that gets 8 weeks off a year? Or another industry? Govies only get 5, and they are touted as getting too much leave.

40 days sounds insane, most companies I’ve worked at had a hard cap.
Anonymous
Post 08/28/2025 07:37     Subject: I don't know how my neighbors have jobs - they take so many days off
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I have 25 vacation days as mid level. I wouldn’t be surprised if they get 30-35.


What company has 25-35 vacation days (or does that include sick days, ie PTO — though 35 is still unusual!)


PE funds right here at DC. VPs and above get 30 days, I am below VP at 25 days, and if you are here for more than 5 years you get another week off.


Oh finance, and you are executive level. That tracks.
Anonymous
Post 08/28/2025 07:35     Subject: I don't know how my neighbors have jobs - they take so many days off
25 days off this year - 3/4 into the year - is 5 weeks. If they get 6 weeks of vacation that makes sense because there are only three months left and spring break and summer break are over and lots of holidays are coming up. If they get 7-8 weeks of vacation that's about right in terms of spacing. Some people do get that much vacation.

And if they can WFH, sometimes it looks like someone if "off" when really they're just taking a walk in between calls or running to the store.

I have a FT job an you can catch me in yoga pants at 10am or 2pm a lot during the week in my yard or neighborhood. Believe me, I work A LOT.

My husband often doesn't take off when we travel. He works from family's houses or sometimes on shorter vacations (like short beach trips).