| Submit your comments on this article |
| Europe |
| Short Workweek May Czech Out [In Frogistan] |
| 2004-07-27 |
| A few years ago France decided to give workers a raise by cutting their hours. How very Phrench. And stupid. Somebody flunked math and economics class. The government commanded most employers to shorten the workweek from 39 hours to 35 for exactly the same weekly pay. Idiot socialist wankers. Many [Emphasis added.] Yet Paris still clings to its dream of more for less, even as reality begins to reassert itself in a Bosch auto-parts factory near Lyon. Workers there recently were given an easy choice: work an extra hour each week without pay, in violation of the 35-hour rule, or the whole plant will pack up and move to the Czech Republic. Oops. Ninety-eight percent of the French workers voted to work 36 hours instead of none. Ya' think? Maybe the average Phroggies aren't so dumb after all. French President Jacques Chirac insists that the 35-hour law remains in force, even if workers decide they must work longer. How does that work, exactly? Is the Tooth Fairy involved? Perhaps the French could repay themselves for having to work an hour more. What about requiring that everyone get a free lunch? Their 35-hour law proves they believe such things exist. Ouch! |
| Posted by:Barbara Skolaut |
| #20 Barbara, you got it. Not a European school in sight, besides the UK, and Spain at number 20. Footnote: this does not mean that there are no European professors teaching economics at the top US schools. But it seems as though 'economics' and 'Europe' do not blend well. (Socialism has a lot to do with it) |
| Posted by: Rafael 2004-07-27 6:36:08 PM |
| #19 This goes along the same line as Kerry's (formerly Hillary's) Universal Health Care Plan which will magically remain at the same level of quality even when the same funds is being spread thinner and thinner and thinner...... |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2004-07-27 6:29:25 PM |
| #18 #14 Rafael: Just took a quick glance (I'm still at work). I noticed the top 11 were all in the U.S. No surprise there. Is that what you meant, or is it something less obvious? |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2004-07-27 6:17:13 PM |
| #17 Is it true that the Koreans call the Japaneese the "lazy people"? or is that some urban racist legend? Have one well off (hell rich) Korean friend who when she goes home still brings back nicks and nacks back to sell to us 'Merikans. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2004-07-27 5:07:09 PM |
| #16 "...the entire French labor force could be replaced by three Koreans working part-time." I used to work for a small business owned by Samsung. You would be suprised. |
| Posted by: Anonymously yours 2004-07-27 4:32:59 PM |
| #15 I haven't done the math, but I think this means that the entire French labor force could be replaced by three Koreans working part-time. |
| Posted by: Matt 2004-07-27 4:13:35 PM |
| #14 Take a look at this ranking and tell me if you see anything unusual about it. Those of you really astute will notice a particular trend on that list ;-) Hmmm, I wonder if there's a corelation between this story and that ranking. There's a footnote to this, but I'll save it for later. |
| Posted by: Rafael 2004-07-27 2:26:39 PM |
| #13 D'oh! Shoulda looked at .com's link before I posted that. *sigh* |
| Posted by: Dar 2004-07-27 1:49:34 PM |
| #12 Keep up the good work, Barbara! Millions on welfare depend on you! ;-) |
| Posted by: Dar 2004-07-27 1:48:19 PM |
| #11 #8 BH: LOL |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2004-07-27 1:20:18 PM |
| #10 #5 .com: No shit! #6 Rasta Boys Dad: I was in graduate school (night school), plus Admin Officer and firefighter at my vol. fire dept, so I was pretty busy. Guess I was just too lazy to look for extra work for those extra days. ;-p But seriously, I know people who make me look like a slacker. And I don't think I'm unusual; lots of people work and have businesses on the side they run on nights and weekends. What the hell to the Phrench do with all that extra time (other than sit around and feel leisurely and self-important)? Particularly since they don't have much (any?) money to spend. |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2004-07-27 1:18:59 PM |
| #9 My schedule would probably kill the average Euro. And I know people who work a whole lot more than I do. I agree. And yet we are always reminded of how people in third world countries work hard while Americans lay around doing nothing but collecting dough. Third worlders do work hard; so do we. It's the 36-hour work week that raises the question of who doesn't work so hard. |
| Posted by: jules 187 2004-07-27 12:45:47 PM |
| #8 What a bunch of clueless idiot socialist losers. Somebody bump the needle, the record's skipping! ;) |
| Posted by: BH 2004-07-27 10:05:39 AM |
| #7 STRIKE! STRIKE! STRIKE! STRIKE!.... |
| Posted by: tu3031 2004-07-27 8:59:59 AM |
| #6 3 days off every 6 weeks? I be hoping you picked up good part timer for that period, yes? |
| Posted by: Rasta Boys Dad 2004-07-27 8:42:35 AM |
| #5 Here's one for you, Barb, you sure earned it with you commentary! |
| Posted by: .com 2004-07-27 1:24:21 AM |
| #4 "...clueless idiot socialist losers." You're repeating yourself again, Barb :-) |
| Posted by: PBMcL 2004-07-27 1:22:44 AM |
| #3 Lol! Easy, Barb! You're bound to give a bunch of folks an inferiority complex, and that includes quite a few LLL "What have you done for me lately?" Merkins, too! Lol! |
| Posted by: .com 2004-07-27 1:22:11 AM |
| #2 Darn it! Forgot to give Misha a hat tip. :-( |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2004-07-27 1:16:15 AM |
| #1 Americans have more than the Phrench (and most of the rest of socialist Europe) because we work more. Last week I put in 40+ hours at my part-time job, then about 15 hours more in my business (not much, I know, but it's the slow season), as well as about 16 hours toward volunteer work. Plus I did some work around the house. And this was a slow week, so I had time to relax and read the Sunday paper while I watched Mystery Sunday night. My schedule would probably kill the average Euro. And I know people who work a whole lot more than I do. And we won't even bring up the factory job I had about 20 years ago: midnight shift, 7 days on, 1 day off, 3-day weekend every 6 weeks. Guaranteed to be off Christmas Eve and Christmas Day (but worked all other holidays - for triple-time, of course). The wilting-violet Phrench would have melted the second night. What a bunch of clueless idiot socialist losers. |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2004-07-27 1:14:38 AM |
