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Original poster

To ask what high earners do all day?

367 replies

WearyCat · 29/11/2025 20:10

I genuinely don’t know what CEOs, that type of role, people earning over 150K pa actually do. How do they spend their time?

Not whether they are worth the salary. But what do those jobs involve on a day to day basis? All I have is an idea based on films and guesswork. Is it golf? Lunches? Meetings? What sort of decisions are they making? What pressures are they facing?

I’m interested, curious, and I don’t see how I would ever find out in real life because I don’t move in circles where people have that sort of job.

OP posts:
Spacesthatsing · 02/12/2025 08:32

SlowDownHere · 29/11/2025 20:31

I think high earners have to make decisions and the buck stops with them. Having said that, I don’t think wages always reflect responsibility. I have a multi million pound budget and if I make a mistake, 60000 people won’t be able to work. I earn £50k

Maybe you should look for a new job - if your skills are sought after your salary should reflect that - the responsibility isn't what you re paid for, it's market, the price is set by skills availability.

Spacesthatsing · 02/12/2025 08:23

Lots of meetings back to back, no time for food unless eating during a meeting and that's not done as a rule, high expectations - can't let people down. Annoying: clients who keep expanding the brief despite fixed resources and times scales - creating increasingly impossible deadlines.

Networking/ building relationships - no golf (ever!) - coffee sometimes but mostly dinner or drinks which can be enjoyable, if you don't need to be home on time or you don't have a tight deadline looming.

On a good day - interesting new problems to solve - working with amazingly clever clients and making a difference.

FuckRealityBringMeABook · 02/12/2025 08:02

I am not in the UK. I work for a major public body that is dependent on government funding. One of the metrics our performance is measured by is work/life balance and job satisfaction. In fact last week I was at a meeting devoted to a quality of working life survey for all staff, from the top down to cleaning and catering staff. It reads very... old-fashioned to me to expect staff to work round the clock and sacrifice their holidays. Why are these big companies not promoting good work-life balance for staff as part of their brand image?

Bubblesgun · 02/12/2025 07:52

CMOTDibbler · 01/12/2025 12:37

DH is a high earning CEO. It is very much 'the buck stops here' for him and everyone wants a piece of his time. He spends a lot of time thinking about 5, 10, 15 years out and how to grow and develop the company towards those goals and what it will take. That's both in terms of product/service, but 'if we are x size then, where will we get staff from - do we need to start training people for role y now so we have great people in 3 years. Then where could we put them, should we have an office in town z where there is a pool'. Or where could finance come from. Or 'this law is coming in which is related to our work, what could we do'.
He has a lot of meetings with his senior team to see that they are on track, support them, explain the vision to them and so on. Meetings with big clients to talk them through what is being delivered, make sure they are happy. Meetings to deal with escalated complaints. Meetings with potential clients
He does take people out to lunch once or twice a week - its an easier way to get in someones packed diary, lets you have a more discreet word sometimes, and builds a relationship better. But its not long boozy lunches by any means.
He works about 100 hours a week, and doesn't ever switch off. He loves it (mostly) though.

Yes and i would add when there is lunches nobody drinks! Because they have meeting to attend / chair afterwards.

@WearyCat you should see around Bank on a friday and compare it to the 90s/00s. Much less people drinking in the afternoon

edited to add original OP

BurnoutGP · 02/12/2025 07:29

StruggleFlourish · 02/12/2025 01:16

Let me preface this by saying that I am NOT A high earner but due to some strange circumstances, I am in a social group in which I am surrounded by ex-high earners...
And from what they've told me over the years, they didn't do an awful lot.

I'm sure that the businesses did well under there so-called direction, but most of the work that was being done was being done by their subordinates, with their days mostly being filled with lunch meetings, dinner meetings, golf meetings, strip club meetings, bar meetings, vacation/resort meetings, etc.

More than 20 different guys in this group have all been top earners through a private corporation or self-employed and they all admit they did practically nothing but their success of their business was mostly due to hiring the best people who worked really really hard and made them lots of money

Sigh. But numerous people on this thread actually doing the job are telling you that's not true but sure your 20 strong group of ex CEO must be the real story.

FuckRealityBringMeABook · 02/12/2025 06:31

StressieBessy · 01/12/2025 23:58

It depends on the job but in my role (legal) I am the person with the highest level of experience and most developed skill set in the team. When I am away there is no such thing as a person who can step into my shoes.

Holiday cover is always a very imperfect compromise and the lawyers standing in for me don’t have the same knowledge of the case or experience so still need to consult me throughout the day; hence multiple calls, meetings and emails throughout most holidays. It is also what clients demand/expect when they are paying a very high hourly rate; they simply will not accept a stand in at critical moments.

The notion of downtime is something we give up when we take this sort of role.

Show quote history

So what happens if you break a leg or something and are unexpectedly incommunicado for a week? The whole place grinds to a halt? Having slack in the system is a good thing.

FuckRealityBringMeABook · 02/12/2025 06:13

blueshoes · 01/12/2025 22:27

That's fine but that is why you are not paid the Big Bucks.

Show quote history

Read the thread and find out that I am, in fact, paid the Big Bucks. And it is very telling that you apparently don't think it ispossible for a job to be well paid and not exploitative.

StruggleFlourish · 02/12/2025 01:16

Let me preface this by saying that I am NOT A high earner but due to some strange circumstances, I am in a social group in which I am surrounded by ex-high earners...
And from what they've told me over the years, they didn't do an awful lot.

I'm sure that the businesses did well under there so-called direction, but most of the work that was being done was being done by their subordinates, with their days mostly being filled with lunch meetings, dinner meetings, golf meetings, strip club meetings, bar meetings, vacation/resort meetings, etc.

More than 20 different guys in this group have all been top earners through a private corporation or self-employed and they all admit they did practically nothing but their success of their business was mostly due to hiring the best people who worked really really hard and made them lots of money

Franpie · 02/12/2025 00:22

WearyCat · 01/12/2025 20:30

I’m still following, and though the discussions about the different types of stress or pressure are interesting, I’m not sure they’re ever resolvable because I imagine there are very few people who have been both a CEO/high earner familiar with the types of pressure detailed by some posters here, and also have the experience of being social workers, teachers, health professionals and so on- who absolutely do carry work around with them to their homes and holidays- actual physical work sometimes, or worries about children, patients, clients etc on other occasions- and often work very long hours. So I wasn’t trying to open a conversation about that here.

I am quite interested to know whether the high salary is worth it. I’ve noted a few posts which suggest that it may not be/have been for those posters. (Equally my own break from working in education was due to the pressures of that job, and I’ve taken steps to try and avoid getting to that sort of point ever again.) Or is it worth it to be financially secure- because financial insecurity is another source of toxic stress.

Can the body even distinguish between different types of toxic or chronic stress?

I think whoever who has made it and maintained a career in C Suite thrives on the stress that brings. It is good stress. Yes, C Suite shoulders an enormous amount of responsibility and ultimately buck stops with them so if there is a colossal fuck up somewhere along the chain, they may lose their job (and crucially, share options - as we don’t care about our salary, it’s our equity package that we fight hard for) because of it. That said, it rarely impacts future employability as everyone knows that’s just what happens and isn’t a reflection of your ability to do your job.

I know you talk about taking work home with you as a teacher but it’s just not the same. I have close family and friends who are teachers and have also been C Suite of an education business so I can compare to some degree.

I haven’t had a proper day off on annual leave for at least a decade. I am always available on email and for meetings, wherever I am in the world and whatever time zone. And there is always someone who needs to speak to me about something or run something past me.

But I don’t complain. I love being one of the ultimate decision makers and having a very prominent seat at the board room table. I’ve tried being a SAHM a few times between roles and enjoyed it for a few months before wanting the excitement and pressure again. Some people thrive under stress and pressure. The money is great, of course, but I don’t do it only for the money.

StressieBessy · 01/12/2025 23:58

FuckRealityBringMeABook · 01/12/2025 20:34

So if you can have a contingency plan to hand over the reins in an emergency, why not make it a regular thing so the CEO / high flying lawyer / marketing director etc. can enjoy their time off? Honestly if someone expected me to be on call during my scheduled down time that generations fought for I would tell them to pretend I was in a coma for the week and act accordingly.

Show quote history

It depends on the job but in my role (legal) I am the person with the highest level of experience and most developed skill set in the team. When I am away there is no such thing as a person who can step into my shoes.

Holiday cover is always a very imperfect compromise and the lawyers standing in for me don’t have the same knowledge of the case or experience so still need to consult me throughout the day; hence multiple calls, meetings and emails throughout most holidays. It is also what clients demand/expect when they are paying a very high hourly rate; they simply will not accept a stand in at critical moments.

The notion of downtime is something we give up when we take this sort of role.

ThisAutumnTown · 01/12/2025 23:57

I have 2 family members who are v v v v v high earners and they spend their days in meetings or they’re travelling around the world for more meetings.
Neither of them are at home very often.

wmaa · 01/12/2025 23:53

My DH earns a bit over that. His day today involved leaving the house around 6am, returning 11:30pm and then carrying on working. He's working upstairs now reviewing a report to be sent to a client. His day has mostly consisted of meetings in person and then phone calls after hours to colleagues who are also working late. I do feel so very angry when people want high earners to hand over more money in tax - he's worked double what most people do in a day, his health is on fire, mine is on fire (because I pick up all slack). Oh, he's also got a cold/cough and doesn't stop for that.

He takes calls on Saturday, Sunday, Bank holiday and during annual leave.

He's one of the highest paid people where he works, deservedly so.

StressieBessy · 01/12/2025 23:48

WearyCat · 01/12/2025 20:30

I’m still following, and though the discussions about the different types of stress or pressure are interesting, I’m not sure they’re ever resolvable because I imagine there are very few people who have been both a CEO/high earner familiar with the types of pressure detailed by some posters here, and also have the experience of being social workers, teachers, health professionals and so on- who absolutely do carry work around with them to their homes and holidays- actual physical work sometimes, or worries about children, patients, clients etc on other occasions- and often work very long hours. So I wasn’t trying to open a conversation about that here.

I am quite interested to know whether the high salary is worth it. I’ve noted a few posts which suggest that it may not be/have been for those posters. (Equally my own break from working in education was due to the pressures of that job, and I’ve taken steps to try and avoid getting to that sort of point ever again.) Or is it worth it to be financially secure- because financial insecurity is another source of toxic stress.

Can the body even distinguish between different types of toxic or chronic stress?

It is worth it up to a point. I take a deep sense of satisfaction from my work and the fact that I have succeeded in my career. I am proud of myself. And obviously the money has allowed us significant financial freedom and enabled us to give our kids a comfortable start in life - although I am often too busy and stressed to enjoy the benefits people imagine come with it (see PPs’ comments above about what holidays actually look like).

But as I get older, I feel increasingly that living, day-in-day-out, with intense chronic stress and peaks of massive anxiety at key moments, is going to kill me.

I feel it physically as well as metaphorically. I live a very unhealthy life; little time for good food, virtually no exercise, no hobbies. My body has survived it thus far but I feel like a ticking time bomb.

So the plan is to keep going only for as long it takes to save a nest egg which will allow us to retire early (ie early 50s) and then stop altogether. Hopefully I will get there before my body gives out!!

LadyTyburn · 01/12/2025 22:49

WearyCat · 01/12/2025 20:30

I’m still following, and though the discussions about the different types of stress or pressure are interesting, I’m not sure they’re ever resolvable because I imagine there are very few people who have been both a CEO/high earner familiar with the types of pressure detailed by some posters here, and also have the experience of being social workers, teachers, health professionals and so on- who absolutely do carry work around with them to their homes and holidays- actual physical work sometimes, or worries about children, patients, clients etc on other occasions- and often work very long hours. So I wasn’t trying to open a conversation about that here.

I am quite interested to know whether the high salary is worth it. I’ve noted a few posts which suggest that it may not be/have been for those posters. (Equally my own break from working in education was due to the pressures of that job, and I’ve taken steps to try and avoid getting to that sort of point ever again.) Or is it worth it to be financially secure- because financial insecurity is another source of toxic stress.

Can the body even distinguish between different types of toxic or chronic stress?

You asked about the body distinguishing between different types of stress. The Whitehall studies (epidemiological cohorts) did give some evidence that the worst kind of stress was that associated with powerlessness. IIRC, they looked at civil servants of different grades and their heart health. And found that being more senior was, although very stressful, also more free. And less damaging. It's been a while since I read them though.

blueshoes · 01/12/2025 22:27

FuckRealityBringMeABook · 01/12/2025 20:34

So if you can have a contingency plan to hand over the reins in an emergency, why not make it a regular thing so the CEO / high flying lawyer / marketing director etc. can enjoy their time off? Honestly if someone expected me to be on call during my scheduled down time that generations fought for I would tell them to pretend I was in a coma for the week and act accordingly.

Show quote history

That's fine but that is why you are not paid the Big Bucks.

Jamclag · 01/12/2025 21:34

Just to add - I have no problem with people being well paid if they really are shouldering all the responsibility and if the buck does actually stop with them. Unless you're a robot that is a huge amount of stress on one person and should be compensated fairly. But if there is little cost to incompetence, negligence, corruption and greed (as in it's relatively easy to move to another position even if found guilty) where's the incentive for good governance?

Oh and correction to my last post - 'their' own - duh!

ItsAWonderfulLifeforMe · 01/12/2025 21:00

WearyCat · 01/12/2025 20:30

I’m still following, and though the discussions about the different types of stress or pressure are interesting, I’m not sure they’re ever resolvable because I imagine there are very few people who have been both a CEO/high earner familiar with the types of pressure detailed by some posters here, and also have the experience of being social workers, teachers, health professionals and so on- who absolutely do carry work around with them to their homes and holidays- actual physical work sometimes, or worries about children, patients, clients etc on other occasions- and often work very long hours. So I wasn’t trying to open a conversation about that here.

I am quite interested to know whether the high salary is worth it. I’ve noted a few posts which suggest that it may not be/have been for those posters. (Equally my own break from working in education was due to the pressures of that job, and I’ve taken steps to try and avoid getting to that sort of point ever again.) Or is it worth it to be financially secure- because financial insecurity is another source of toxic stress.

Can the body even distinguish between different types of toxic or chronic stress?

As a family we are justifying that it is ‘worth it’ as we can afford for me to be a SAHM.

We are also planning for early retirement- putting in as much as we can into the pension to give him some hope of freedom from the rat race and stress. When I start working again we will have more money and financial security but for now having me home taking the childcare and household load is more important. Lifestyle creep is real and very possible and we need to be responsible with the earnings he has as they may not be as high forever. We can also afford a large (but not fancy) house and this makes us happy and we enjoy our home.

Or he might continue to rise up the ranks and earn even more and his job will
take over our life completely which seems like a possibility reading some of the comments!

KentishMama · 01/12/2025 20:59

I have this sort of job. Not C suite, but lead a function in a large global company.

My day is pretty meeting heavy. A lot of the time they are meetings where people present their ideas, projects, etc to me and are looking for a decision of some sort. They often make a recommendation, and it's my job to judge whether that's a sound recommendation. I need to look at the wider business context and try to understand how my decision will fit in with that etc. It's a lot of pressure as sometimes one wrong decision can cost the business hundreds of millions.
The other part of my job seems to be to just keep an eye on all the moving pieces of all the work my team do, and intervene early if something is amiss. Try to catch problems before they even really exist. And in the same way, try to spot opportunities early and get team members digging into them quickly, before anyone else gets there.

I don't hugely mind the pressure, most of the time. I enjoy the intellectual challenge. Having to think deeply at high speed. And working with people is rewarding. I have a truly wonderful team. My direct reports are superb. Coaching them is fun.

I do mind it when I have to do things like deal with performance issues. Or redundancies, although I've only had to do a handful in my career. Reorgs. These things are unavoidable, but never pleasant. I've learnt that you can genuinely like the people you work with - and still agree that firing them is the right thing for the business.

That was quite an essay! Sorry!

DeedsNotDiddums · 01/12/2025 20:36

ADogRocketShip · 01/12/2025 16:18

I'm a lawyer working in-house in tech and tend to earn about that, depending on bonus. My days involve a never ending cycle of emails, meetings, meetings about meetings we're having later, meetings to argue about the interpretation of individual words in a contract, meetings with engineers to try and understand their products etc. Lots of drafting of contract terms for upcoming deals, drafting emails, advisory notes. Sending instructions to external counsel when necessary and meetings with them. Providing training to the business and engineering teams on key compliance frameworks (e.g., latest regulations for AI and how it impacts our product designs).

Just generally lots of stress too. Far more stress than when I was more junior. Now I'm more senior I have the benefit of being a bit more flexible in terms of working hours, but the work itself is very complicated and decisions I make are more risky or potentially more impactful. I'm expected to be available a lot, which means working weekends, holidays and a lot of evenings once the kids are in bed. When I'm not physically working on my laptop, I often have work in my mind. Its very hard to switch off. I literally dream about different work matters I have on that I'm finding it hard to 'fix'. The pressure to come up with 'creative solutions' (i.e., the business wants to do X, find a way to make it legal or compliant) which aren't too risky is exhausting and you're constantly second guessing your decisions.

Honestly, its been pretty horrific recently and I've been making exit plans to move to a less stressful role. I'm thankful not to have any direct reports or people management responsibilities.

Edited

I hear you. I don't have the mental space for my hobby, which would need me to switch off mentally. I can't switch off mentally. If I do, work suffers.

FuckRealityBringMeABook · 01/12/2025 20:35

Jamclag · 01/12/2025 20:27

I'd been a guardian reader for last 30 years - until recently boycotting it on GI issues - so can't say whether the daily mail (that champion of socialist values) has much to say about corporate or public sector mismanagement. I'm guessing they're not pushing for re-nationalisation of rail, post, water and energy on the grounds of incompetence/corruption? Would be pleased if they are.

But come on, you'd have to have been living under a rock for the last few years to think they're isn't a problem with revolving doors between government depts and big Business. HMRC are known for it. It's really difficult to fail on a personal level once you reach a certain level, largely due to the connections you've made on the way up which guarantee there will always be other lucrative options - even if you temporarily have to take the fall in one job.

And no, I'm just a lowly charity volunteer and family carer who happens by quirk of where I live to be friends over the last 30 years with a fair few people who have 'very big jobs' - my personal experience comes from the stories they tell about they're own professional experiences. I have no reason to doubt them.

Show quote history

AKA Private Eye's perennial Revolving Door feature.

Lovehascomeandgone · 01/12/2025 20:35

I love what I do so the fact it also attracts a higher salary is great. So yes it is worth it, it’s a life choice not just a career for me. I get to do a breadth of very interesting things and stuff that makes me feel I’m making a great impact also. Apologies don’t want to be too specific as it’s outing.

FuckRealityBringMeABook · 01/12/2025 20:34

blueshoes · 01/12/2025 19:53

I presume the person one rung down will run each business unit on a business-as-usual basis but no big strategic or politically difficult decisions get taken. Consequently, the company is rudderless and will slowly move backwards (because there is no such thing as standing still) without someone to motivate staff and drive the business forward.

If a CEO is incapacitated, many times it is the chairman who will step in in the interim until a new chief can be found.

Show quote history

So if you can have a contingency plan to hand over the reins in an emergency, why not make it a regular thing so the CEO / high flying lawyer / marketing director etc. can enjoy their time off? Honestly if someone expected me to be on call during my scheduled down time that generations fought for I would tell them to pretend I was in a coma for the week and act accordingly.

Original poster
WearyCat · 01/12/2025 20:30

I’m still following, and though the discussions about the different types of stress or pressure are interesting, I’m not sure they’re ever resolvable because I imagine there are very few people who have been both a CEO/high earner familiar with the types of pressure detailed by some posters here, and also have the experience of being social workers, teachers, health professionals and so on- who absolutely do carry work around with them to their homes and holidays- actual physical work sometimes, or worries about children, patients, clients etc on other occasions- and often work very long hours. So I wasn’t trying to open a conversation about that here.

I am quite interested to know whether the high salary is worth it. I’ve noted a few posts which suggest that it may not be/have been for those posters. (Equally my own break from working in education was due to the pressures of that job, and I’ve taken steps to try and avoid getting to that sort of point ever again.) Or is it worth it to be financially secure- because financial insecurity is another source of toxic stress.

Can the body even distinguish between different types of toxic or chronic stress?

OP posts:
Jamclag · 01/12/2025 20:27

BurnoutGP · 01/12/2025 19:37

You know this how? You work at high level and are privy to these details? Or youre just daily mailing it...

Show quote history

I'd been a guardian reader for last 30 years - until recently boycotting it on GI issues - so can't say whether the daily mail (that champion of socialist values) has much to say about corporate or public sector mismanagement. I'm guessing they're not pushing for re-nationalisation of rail, post, water and energy on the grounds of incompetence/corruption? Would be pleased if they are.

But come on, you'd have to have been living under a rock for the last few years to think they're isn't a problem with revolving doors between government depts and big Business. HMRC are known for it. It's really difficult to fail on a personal level once you reach a certain level, largely due to the connections you've made on the way up which guarantee there will always be other lucrative options - even if you temporarily have to take the fall in one job.

And no, I'm just a lowly charity volunteer and family carer who happens by quirk of where I live to be friends over the last 30 years with a fair few people who have 'very big jobs' - my personal experience comes from the stories they tell about they're own professional experiences. I have no reason to doubt them.

blueshoes · 01/12/2025 19:53

FuckRealityBringMeABook · 01/12/2025 14:38

More fool them then, TBH. Not having a plan in place for someone to step in in case of illness sounds like poor planning and bad workplace practice to me. What happens to the company when the CEO slash CFO is suddenly incapacitated?

I presume the person one rung down will run each business unit on a business-as-usual basis but no big strategic or politically difficult decisions get taken. Consequently, the company is rudderless and will slowly move backwards (because there is no such thing as standing still) without someone to motivate staff and drive the business forward.

If a CEO is incapacitated, many times it is the chairman who will step in in the interim until a new chief can be found.