To think most people wouldn’t give up work if they won their annual salary?

[coconuttella]

There’s a new game show being advertised on Channel 4 called “I don’t like Mondays” hosted by Alan Carr that seems to be based on the concept of winning your annual salary so you can give up work for a year....

I’m just not convinced that many people actually would. If I won my annual salary I’d either pay off some of the mortgage, pay some into my pension, or go on a better holiday etc. I definitely wouldn’t give up work! Am I unusual in thinking like this?

They don’t actually force you to give up work. It’s a TV device.

We've just inherited a sum of money which is equivalent to me and DH annual salary. We won't be giving up work for a year we'll be paying a lump sum of the mortgage, getting a new car and going on holiday instead. Sure not going to work would be nice but what are you supposed to after a year?

I expect it’s aimed at 20somethings who want to go travelling.

I’d have thought most 20 somethings would use it for a deposit!

It smacks of having zero aspiration or ambition, and assumes you live, and only ever intend to live, a hand to mouth existence

Or, you're knackered, stuck in a job you don't much like, and want some breathing space. I only have a few months left on my current contract and I would leave now if I could. A year's salary would give me the chance to take stock and find something longer term. Then I might be able to get myself out of the trap of short-term contracts.

I don't think many people would use it to intermit for a year, and I doubt many employers would allow it. But I suspect a lot of people would use it to change direction.

Oh dear, that game show is just made for me.....I am working ONE MORE YEAR and then I have enough money to do something I have dreamed of doing for a long time (involves giving up my work entirely and travelling to another land)...
If I just had a year's salary I could go now.
I've made up my mind to leave so it's hard sitting it out for another long year, I just want to GO!!

I did. I inherited some money which amounted to just under my salary at the time. I took a sabbatical to travel SA Asia then came back to work 18 months later.

I wouldnt, but I love my job. However many people do take voluntary redundancy, which isn't too dissimilar

I would quit my job but I would use the money to set up a business.

They don’t actually force you to give up work. It’s a TV device.

I realise that, but I don’t like the concept as it assumes Joe Public are moronic dullards in dead end jobs living endlessly repetitive lives with no ambition or aspiration beyond their getting their next pay cheque.

I do a lot of work and lived for a long time in southeast Asia, we're many people do just that. They quit their jobs to go traveling for a year. I think most don't go back to the same job though.

I have a disability and people who just meet me assume I'm on benefits and don't have a very for filling life, but those who know me know that I get bored very easily, I'm very curious, and can't sit still. I was housebound for a month last year after have A stress fracture in my foot, I managed to improve my Greek a lot and learn a years worth of Romanian. Sadly, many people with disabilities are out of work, and many people question why we want to work. But I have to point out, what would you do if you didn't work? It sounds nice, and yes, some people like it and don't do much, but staying at home gets really boring. I taught English on Skype a lot during the month I was housebound, and I found an organization where you can volunteer Online. I speak nine languages, so found voluntary jobs online to do from home. But really, people think not working sounds great until they actually don't work.

I would give up work and use the time to re-train to do what I really want to do.

When I was 40 I took a redundancy which was equivilant to 6 months salary. With a lodger, a bit of temping it kept me going for two years, I went travelling for 6 months, went back to uni and did a masters. Best thing I ever did.

I definitely wouldn’t, it’s not worth it. I’ve just been offered a job I hope I’m going to love.

A colleague took a sabbatical, but that’s very rare in my field and he’s come back to a very different dynamic in the office and does not like it one bit. New people, including a manager who has taken to using a communal office despite having her own, makes it very awkward for us plebs!

Very odd. Maybe go part time for a bit? Or take a sabbatical and travel maybe I guess, if your employer was flexible.

I would probably get time off for a year.
I'm not sure if I want to though. I'm just starting a couple of projects that are going to last 12 months and I can't wait to start.

I realise that, but I don’t like the concept as it assumes Joe Public are moronic dullards in dead end jobs living endlessly repetitive lives with no ambition or aspiration beyond their getting their next pay cheque.

I have been a contestant on a few quiz shows.

I think the point is more that they want the people who are coming to win the money to have a reason to win the money rather than doing it for the sake of money itself. So they would be asked what their ‘year out’ would be for on the application and it would be something like retraining for a dream job, doing some learning they’d always wanted to do, traveling, living abroad, doing a volunteering role. It’s to make it more interesting.

I think rather than saying Joe Public are dullards, it’s recognising that Joe Public is often extremely interesting people who want to do amazing things but often are financially constrained so can’t.

And that’s true.

I'm just starting a year off to have a baby and the prospect of my full salary for a year would be amazing... im counting myself very lucky though to be getting what I am getting from maternity pay though!