Getting Paid for Not Working

Since I am on jury duty this week, I have become intrigued by the topic of getting paid but not working. In part, this is because that is exactly what I am doing this week. It is rather interesting.

For example, at my regular job, work starts around 9 am and I typically stay until 6ish. Plus I check my blackberry or work a bit more in the evenings. At jury duty, the judge seems to understand I don't do mornings and has thus far not started before 10 am. We have breaks every 1.5 hours, an hour and a half lunch break, and we always finish by 4:45 pm. Did I mention I usually stay at work until at least 6 pm?

And the lunch break! For a gal who typically scarfs down a peanut butter sandwich in between meetings it is glorious. A whole hour and a half, with all of the downtown eateries in walking distance. I even had time to breeze through the Smithsonian during lunch. During this whole experience I am getting paid by my regular job as well as $4 per day for being a juror. I realize that's not much but it at least gets me a morning coffee and pastry.

So, this whole experience got me interested in other experiences where you can get paid but not work. Lo and behold, one of my fellow jurors (who is also getting paid to not work now) knew of one. Her friend recently graduated from Yale Law School and was offered a job at a top law firm at an $80,000 starting salary.

Guess what the job was? Doing nothing. Seriously. Given the economy, some firms are hiring people at a "lower" salary and asking them not to work or sign with any other firms for a while until they can afford to bring them on at full salary. Wow. I was amazed when I learned that. I realize after graduating from law school, you're probably ready to get to work, but seriously... $80,000 could pay for so much traveling. Or you could save half of that and travel. Or you could do pro bono legal work. Or get pastries and coffee every morning followed by leisurely lunches out. The possibilities are endless...

Let me know if you have additional ideas for getting paid but not working.