at most sales departments across the country. I've been in production and management positions.

Producers work for a very modest base, then get paid aggressive compensation plans (or that's what they are told). Then you find out that 1099 or W2-exempt contractors make much more than you on each sale. So it's debatable in regard to income. But in some cases, a small percentage of the sales floor will actually make more than most managers of the chain (unless you hit direct and C-Level execs).

Supervisors: Usually the best sales agents over the past few seasons who are not completely burned out. On the surface, this sounds great but they are expected to sell very little. Most of their day is looking at metrics from the previous day, shouting out people they like on their team, maybe a few one on one consultations with agents who are struggling, and various meetings with upper managers throughout the day. They may in fact work the hardest after producers because they are gunning for that next paycheck level and that next rung on the ladder. Overall it's very unstressful and much easier than producing. I actually listened to the calls of my team, I met with every single employee on my team every week. And funny enough that was during the pandemic while I was working at home. Didn't have any problem at all managing our team remotely (and they were all remote) and we were one of the best teams in the department.

Department Manager/Assistants: Probably one of the easiest gigs you'll have as an employee for a major corporation and probably why those guys are cut first with most companies when things slow down. I call them professional meeting attendees. They also come in often well after 9 AM and you'll see some go home after 5 or 6 but it's not often. They are of course the most enthusiastic pushers of how good everyone has it at the company. I know because I used to work with these guys on a daily basis at my company and was not impressed by their work ethic and often wondered how a big company like ours really could get anything done.

C Level - VP types: Okay, this level I'll admit I wasn't as privy to in terms of their work schedules. We had one on my floor, but he was not at our location most days. When he was he did seem pretty busy on the phone and had meetings with the DM's often. I respected these guys much more than the department managers.

Obviously not every company is as dysfunctional as mine is but it's pretty dang incredible the company that I work for has made it to that point that I really don't think it matters who they hire on the micro level, just plug them into the matrix and if they work out or not things will continue to turn along.

Entrepreneurs are a whole different breed, and big-time respect and admiration for those willing to risk it all. Some of them are a bit better at managing people, but for the most part, if you are not at a smaller company you won't run into them often.