France is the champion of Europe for bunking off work thanks to legal protections which ensure workers still get paid even after six months, according to a Saratoga and Price Waterhouse Coopers survey of 14,000 companies.
But it's not just the legal safeguards that keep people away from their desks. French people are fed up with working. You see them every day: the grumpy lady at the post-office counter, the rude bank clerk, the aggressive waitress. Strolling past a market stall in Cannes last weekend I saw a rack of t-shirts with slogans such as 'work sucks' or 'the best thing about my week is the weekend.'
It reminded me of Britain in the early 1980s when Garfield cartoons proclaiming 'I hate Monday' decorated the walls of many workplaces. Although people still prefer Fridays, the Brit attitude towards work has become less hostile. The stand-off between companies and their employees is less about workers-vs-bosses and more about ensuring that managers are doing their job properly. People take some pride if not in what they do, then at least in providing for themselves and their family.
Business is a almost dirty word in France. The economy in the minds of many French people is a sort of pump operated out of the finance ministry in Bercy. The government just needs to adjust the settings to create jobs and money. Problem is, they haven't been getting the settings right for quite some time.
It is workers and not politicians that create the wealth of a nation and the government should give credit back to its citizens. When Socialist grandees like Laurent Fabius say factory workers should be allowed to retire early because they have such a shitty job, they are stealing their self-worth. Fabius might consider working in a factory beneath him, but it ain't so bad. For some people, not relying on state handouts is a source of pride and they enjoy the banter of the workplace.
Give people back pride in their work and they might start showing up more.
Monday 26 February 2007
Sunday 25 February 2007
French Humour
When you think of France, sense of humour is not first quality that springs to mind. But it may be becoming one of the country's growth industries.
Stand Up comedy, a deeply British tradition, has come to France with the Jamel Comedy Club which this weekend welcomed Segolene Royal among its audience. And inspiration is criss-crossing the Channel with British comedian Rory Bremer stealing headline-grabbing tactics from France. The Observer revealed he'd posed as a Gordon Brown impersonator, tricking a government minister into saying exactly what she thought of her colleagues.
Just a few weeks ago Segolene Royal fell for a similar prank when comedian Gerald Dahan coaxed her to make a joke at the expense of the touchy Corsicans by pretending to be the prime minister of Quebec, Jean Charest.
Interestingly, the French media had no qualms about publishing the recording and Segolene was mocked for having fallen for the prankster. Calls of dirty tricks by her camp fell on deaf ears and in dinner parties around the French capital, Segolene was accused of having made another gaffe. In Britain, Channel Four decided not to screen the Bremner recordings because of regulations banning the use of deception unless it is in the public interest. And Margaret Beckett, the duped minister, condemned the stunt as an 'unprincipled and unpleasant breach of privacy.'
Stand Up comedy, a deeply British tradition, has come to France with the Jamel Comedy Club which this weekend welcomed Segolene Royal among its audience. And inspiration is criss-crossing the Channel with British comedian Rory Bremer stealing headline-grabbing tactics from France. The Observer revealed he'd posed as a Gordon Brown impersonator, tricking a government minister into saying exactly what she thought of her colleagues.
Just a few weeks ago Segolene Royal fell for a similar prank when comedian Gerald Dahan coaxed her to make a joke at the expense of the touchy Corsicans by pretending to be the prime minister of Quebec, Jean Charest.
Interestingly, the French media had no qualms about publishing the recording and Segolene was mocked for having fallen for the prankster. Calls of dirty tricks by her camp fell on deaf ears and in dinner parties around the French capital, Segolene was accused of having made another gaffe. In Britain, Channel Four decided not to screen the Bremner recordings because of regulations banning the use of deception unless it is in the public interest. And Margaret Beckett, the duped minister, condemned the stunt as an 'unprincipled and unpleasant breach of privacy.'
Saturday 24 February 2007
Nill Illigitimi Carborundum
That's Latin for Don't Let the Bastards Get You Down.
Years ago, when my sister got screwed by the company she was working for, my Mum sent a bunch of flowers to her office and the card read: 'nil illigitimi carborundum.'
I wish she'd sent me a card like that these past months.
I've had to face 'them' down on my own. Not completely on my own, thankfully. On the other end of my skype camera each night there is always my beautiful Donato. Telling me I am doing the right thing. Keeping me sane.
I've just written a book that is a lot about why French people would be better off if they weren't so afraid of taking risks. So it would have been very hypocritical of child-less me not to follow my own advice, even if I was terrified. Even if I just bought a house and have a mortgage to pay.
And now what's done is done. And the upside -- and it is a huge, awesome, frighteningly wonderful upside -- is that I'm going to be an author. And now it's done, they can't squeeze the excitement out of me anymore.
I went for a long jog this morning. And as I rounded the turn of the hill in the Buttes Chaumont park, I caught sight of the delicate china-white Sacre-Coeur church crowning Paris' skyline. And my adrenalin finally flushed out months of worry and self-doubt and for the first time I felt a thrill of exitement about what I am doing. I am about to publish a book. And everything is going to be fabulous.
Years ago, when my sister got screwed by the company she was working for, my Mum sent a bunch of flowers to her office and the card read: 'nil illigitimi carborundum.'
I wish she'd sent me a card like that these past months.
I've had to face 'them' down on my own. Not completely on my own, thankfully. On the other end of my skype camera each night there is always my beautiful Donato. Telling me I am doing the right thing. Keeping me sane.
I've just written a book that is a lot about why French people would be better off if they weren't so afraid of taking risks. So it would have been very hypocritical of child-less me not to follow my own advice, even if I was terrified. Even if I just bought a house and have a mortgage to pay.
And now what's done is done. And the upside -- and it is a huge, awesome, frighteningly wonderful upside -- is that I'm going to be an author. And now it's done, they can't squeeze the excitement out of me anymore.
I went for a long jog this morning. And as I rounded the turn of the hill in the Buttes Chaumont park, I caught sight of the delicate china-white Sacre-Coeur church crowning Paris' skyline. And my adrenalin finally flushed out months of worry and self-doubt and for the first time I felt a thrill of exitement about what I am doing. I am about to publish a book. And everything is going to be fabulous.
Thursday 22 February 2007
Impertinence
'Apparently she might not come,' I was informed by grumpy journalists as soon as I arrived for a joint press conference with Segolene and Former Health Minister Bernard Kouchner at the Socialist party headquarters. Sure enough 'la star' failed to show.
Kouchner attempted to fill the void by presenting his alternative to Royal's boot camps for unruly teenagers: civic service training with charities or state services. Journalists were waiting for the overdue announcement of Segolene's new campaign team.
'Will you be part of the team?' the former doctor was asked. He didn't know.
Sarkozy had named Kouchner as a Socialist he could work with, and I asked the founder of Medicins sans Frontiers whether he'd be willing to work with Segolene's competitor if she failed to win the elections. While he didn't seem particularly enthusiastic about the idea, he failed to rule it out either.
'Beware of opinion polls,' he said.
'You always ask impertinent questions,' said one of the press attaches as we edged out of the chilly tent erected in the middle of party HQ.
'I've been accused by the Elysee of impertinence, but I never thought I'd hear it from the Socialist party,' I said.
He grinned. 'Oh it's not a reproach. I like your questions.'
Kouchner attempted to fill the void by presenting his alternative to Royal's boot camps for unruly teenagers: civic service training with charities or state services. Journalists were waiting for the overdue announcement of Segolene's new campaign team.
'Will you be part of the team?' the former doctor was asked. He didn't know.
Sarkozy had named Kouchner as a Socialist he could work with, and I asked the founder of Medicins sans Frontiers whether he'd be willing to work with Segolene's competitor if she failed to win the elections. While he didn't seem particularly enthusiastic about the idea, he failed to rule it out either.
'Beware of opinion polls,' he said.
'You always ask impertinent questions,' said one of the press attaches as we edged out of the chilly tent erected in the middle of party HQ.
'I've been accused by the Elysee of impertinence, but I never thought I'd hear it from the Socialist party,' I said.
He grinned. 'Oh it's not a reproach. I like your questions.'
Wednesday 21 February 2007
Vaffanculo
To take a break one second from the French campaign.
'Siete Degli Irresponsabili , BASTARDI ; BASTARDI ; FRANCO TURIGLIATTI SEI UNA MERDA VIVENTE ; BASTARDO ;BASTARDO ; mi ritroverò con Berlusconi per colpa TUA BASTARDO PEZZO DI MERDA ; VAI A FARE IN CULO TU E TUTTA LA TUA RAZZA DI MERDA ; BASTARDI
VAFFANCULO VAFFANCULO.'
Even for those of you who don't speak Italian, I think the message is clear. This is a mail from Donato (reproduced with his permission) to the Rifondazione Communista party of Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi's coalition government. In a vote on foreign policy in the Senate, where Prodi enjoys a one-seat majority, the communists witheld their support, forcing Prodi to quit. Though it seems likely he will be back with a new coalition, the move gave heart to Berlusconi's party. And promted this delicious reaction. No mater if you don't understand. Try reading it out loud a few times. It's a wonderful way to rid yourself of any frustrations you might be holding onto.
'Siete Degli Irresponsabili , BASTARDI ; BASTARDI ; FRANCO TURIGLIATTI SEI UNA MERDA VIVENTE ; BASTARDO ;BASTARDO ; mi ritroverò con Berlusconi per colpa TUA BASTARDO PEZZO DI MERDA ; VAI A FARE IN CULO TU E TUTTA LA TUA RAZZA DI MERDA ; BASTARDI
VAFFANCULO VAFFANCULO.'
Even for those of you who don't speak Italian, I think the message is clear. This is a mail from Donato (reproduced with his permission) to the Rifondazione Communista party of Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi's coalition government. In a vote on foreign policy in the Senate, where Prodi enjoys a one-seat majority, the communists witheld their support, forcing Prodi to quit. Though it seems likely he will be back with a new coalition, the move gave heart to Berlusconi's party. And promted this delicious reaction. No mater if you don't understand. Try reading it out loud a few times. It's a wonderful way to rid yourself of any frustrations you might be holding onto.
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