Take a look around your parking lot. Is there at least one vehicle that looks like it cost more than your house? Chances are you won’t find one. We tend to perceive our bosses as Scrooge McDuck or the Monopoly® guy—people who are mega rich! However, that tends to be the exact opposite!
A recent CareerBuilder survey took a look at the personalities and preferences of over 500 executives and senior leadership positions and found that most of them are just like us!
You won’t find half of these execs in suits and ties, but rather business casual attire, like khakis and polos. A little over 20 percent of these power players drive themselves to work in midsize sedans rather than expensive luxury cars. In fact, only 10 percent surveyed actually own a luxury sedan. What’s even more astonishing is that 18 percent of executives prefer the environmentally friendly route of commuting by either taking public transportation (9 percent), driving hybrids (4 percent), walking (4 percent), and riding bikes to work (1 percent).
Sick of leftovers for lunch? So is your boss! Nearly half (42 percent) of the executives surveyed say they bring their lunch from home, while 22 percent say they prefer fast food. Surprisingly, 1 in 10 executives skip lunch altogether!
Think you work long hours? Well, so does your boss! Over half of the respondents say they work between 40 and 50 hours per week, while a small fraction work less than 40. Even though they have a packed schedule, they still find time to work out. Almost all of the respondents (82 percent) say they find at least 1 day to work out, while 18 percent say they rarely, or never, work out!
So don’t feel back about your ’96 Corolla that’s missing a rim, or your tomato and cheese sandwich. Your boss shares your pain! And hey, if anything, it’ll give you something to talk about at your next performance review!
Just like us–if you overlook the huge pay gap.