And I don't mind them as it is an officially blessed "we don't need you to work right now" period, giving me some time to work on personal projects while others

And I don't mind them as it is an officially blessed "we don't need you to work right now" period, giving me some time to work on personal projects while others drone on about nothing. Which, indeed, is another reason why bosses love them. With less time working, more workers are needed to get an equivalent amount of work done, increasing the headcount under their watch. As a boss' worth is measured by how many people he leads, it is in his best interest to waste as much time as he can without losing his own job.