06-02-2005 02:13									#1
	French workers fight for the right to be lazy Inflate your Upload Space

quote: French protests over 35-hour week Thousands of people are taking part in demonstrations across France against the centre-right government's plan to reform the 35-hour week. Trade unions hope 300,000 people will take part in more than 100 marches. The unions held three days of strikes in the public sector last month, and believe there is a growing mood to challenge the government. The government says the 35-hour week has raised labour costs and kept unemployment high. The largest demonstration in Paris was headed by trade union leaders as well as by prominent figures in the opposition Socialist party. At least 12,000 protestors took to the streets in Toulouse, in south-west France, police said, although organisers said at least 20,000 took part. There were also demonstrations in Rennes, Bordeaux, Lyon, Metz and Saint-Etienne. Demonstrators have been buoyed by a recent poll showing that at least 69% of the French public supports the current protests. Flexibility drive The demonstrations come as a bill to enable private-sector employees to opt for longer hours makes its way through the French parliament. Under the proposed law, the number of overtime hours employees can work each year will be increased from a 180 to 220. However, the changes would not affect the public sector, which employs nearly a quarter of all French workers. Union leaders accuse the government of trying to turn back the clock. They fear this is the first step towards abolishing the 35-hour week, says the BBC's Caroline Wyatt in Paris. The 35-hour working week was introduced in France by the country's last Socialist government. But Jacques Chirac's centre-right government blames it for putting up the cost of labour and keeping unemployment at a stubbornly high 10% of the French workforce

Slackers of the world unite!

	06-02-2005 02:16									#2
	Support Apolyton, buy GURPS/ Alpha Centauri

35 hour weeks

	06-02-2005 02:19									#3
	Support Apolyton, buy Galactic Civilizations

People shouldn't have to work more that 35 hours a week if they don't wish to, and should be able to get a decent standard of living from it. It is about time we worked to live, not lived to work!

	06-02-2005 02:20									#4
	Tired of ads?

Edit: adding some substance to this thread:

quote: People shouldn't have to work more that 35 hours a week if they don't wish to, and should be able to get a decent standard of living from it. It is about time we worked to live, not lived to work!

I agree. And people should also be allowed to work more than 35 hours a week if they want a better standard of living, right?

	06-02-2005 02:23									#5
	Support Apolyton, buy GURPS/ Alpha Centauri

quote: Originally posted by Provost Harrison People shouldn't have to work more that 35 hours a week if they don't wish to, and should be able to get a decent standard of living from it. It is about time we worked to live, not lived to work!

	06-02-2005 02:24									#6
	Support Apolyton, buy Civilization: The Boardgame

quote: Originally posted by Provost Harrison People shouldn't have to work more that 35 hours a week if they don't wish to, and should be able to get a decent standard of living from it. It is about time we worked to live, not lived to work!

I spend more than 35 hours a week in school.

	06-02-2005 02:25									#7
	Support Apolyton, buy Alpha Centauri

France is one of the few bastions of sanity on earth. I hope it stays that way.

	06-02-2005 02:30									#8
	Enter the AD-FREE zone

quote: Originally posted by Kuciwalker I spend more than 35 hours a week in school.

And you still don't know anything.

	06-02-2005 02:30									#9
	Got spare money?

quote: Originally posted by Kidicious 35 hour weeks

	06-02-2005 03:10									#10
	Re: French workers fight for the right to be lazy Support Apolyton, buy Galactic Civilizations

quote: Originally posted by DinoDoc quote: French protests over 35-hour week Thousands of people are taking part in demonstrations across France against the centre-right government's plan to reform the 35-hour week. Trade unions hope 300,000 people will take part in more than 100 marches. The unions held three days of strikes in the public sector last month, and believe there is a growing mood to challenge the government. The government says the 35-hour week has raised labour costs and kept unemployment high. The largest demonstration in Paris was headed by trade union leaders as well as by prominent figures in the opposition Socialist party. At least 12,000 protestors took to the streets in Toulouse, in south-west France, police said, although organisers said at least 20,000 took part. There were also demonstrations in Rennes, Bordeaux, Lyon, Metz and Saint-Etienne. Demonstrators have been buoyed by a recent poll showing that at least 69% of the French public supports the current protests. Flexibility drive The demonstrations come as a bill to enable private-sector employees to opt for longer hours makes its way through the French parliament. Under the proposed law, the number of overtime hours employees can work each year will be increased from a 180 to 220. However, the changes would not affect the public sector, which employs nearly a quarter of all French workers. Union leaders accuse the government of trying to turn back the clock. They fear this is the first step towards abolishing the 35-hour week, says the BBC's Caroline Wyatt in Paris. The 35-hour working week was introduced in France by the country's last Socialist government. But Jacques Chirac's centre-right government blames it for putting up the cost of labour and keeping unemployment at a stubbornly high 10% of the French workforce Slackers of the world unite!

conservatives

raising the workweek will wreck havok on their unemployment problem.

I'd kill for a 35 hour workweek. There are just some things in life more important than work. Yep, you guessed it. Computer games.

	06-02-2005 03:18									#11
	Increase Your PM Length

quote: Originally posted by Kuciwalker I spend more than 35 hours a week in school.

So what? Life isn't about nothing but work. And you try doing ridiculous hours if you are doing something far more taxing than what you are doing. When you've grown up and have a real job, we'll talk about it again.

	06-02-2005 03:19									#12
	Put an end to popups!

Damn those lazy frenchies. I work my butt out 37 hours each week (admiited, 5 x 1/2 hour paid lunch included) with full (200 %) overtime paid, and only get six weeks of vacation a year.

Shame on them.

	06-02-2005 03:20									#13
	Remove this text

40 hours a week isn't anything near "ridiculous hours". Many, many people manage it just fine.

	06-02-2005 03:21									#14
	Support Apolyton, buy GURPS/ Alpha Centauri

wait until you start working.

actually 40 hour workweeks don't bother me. I'd rather work 40 hour workweeks and get more vacation days, than work 35 hour workweeks and get less vacation days.

The problem in america is too many jobs only give you 1 week of vacation a year.

complete and total bullshit

	06-02-2005 03:25									#15
	Inflate your Upload Space

quote: Originally posted by Kuciwalker 40 hours a week isn't anything near "ridiculous hours". Many, many people manage it just fine.

"Manage"?. With modern methods and automation, people shouldn't just have to manage, people should have a decent work life balance where they don't feel like they are constantly chained to the job. Try it when you've got a family to look after, you need all the time you've got, plus the money.

	06-02-2005 03:28									#16
	Support Apolyton, buy Civilization: The Boardgame

quote: Originally posted by Dissident wait until you start working. actually 40 hour workweeks don't bother me. I'd rather work 40 hour workweeks and get more vacation days, than work 35 hour workweeks and get less vacation days. The problem in america is too many jobs only give you 1 week of vacation a year. complete and total bullshit

It is truly ridiculous. The French have the 35 hour week (although there are numerous waivers to that), but they should stick to their guns and fight to retain it. At least it is good to see that there is still some sense of solidarity left in France.

And as for paid holiday in this country it is a minimum of 20 days pro rata by law. People need to take time out.

	06-02-2005 03:34									#17
	Enter the AD-FREE zone

the French

it's glad to see a society that knows how valuable time is, and that it shouldn't be wasted working.

	06-02-2005 03:36									#18
	Suffering from ads?

quote: Originally posted by BlackCat Damn those lazy frenchies. I work my butt out 37 hours each week (admiited, 5 x 1/2 hour paid lunch included) with full (200 %) overtime paid, and only get six weeks of vacation a year. Shame on them.

Pretty much ditto. Life's a b*tch ain't it?

	06-02-2005 03:41									#19
	Support Apolyton

1 week vacation a year? Where do they work, gunatamo bay? That's sick ****.

35 hour week is plenty. If you can't do your job in 7 hours a day, then I guess you are being too lazy. AN hour doesn't make a difference, if you are lazy the first 8 hours. Naturally this does not apply to all jobs. Certain jobs must have that 8 hour rotation, or 12 hour one. Services, well they need to stay open. But there are lots of jobs that can be done in 7 hours a day, without suffering in results. Of course assuming the job still gets done. On the contrary, folks have more free time, spend with their kids and family, or party what ever. They should be more heatlhy and productive.

The point is, if you do a job where you do a certain thing in 8 hours that can be done in 7 hours, damn do it in 7 and go home. Other people who must do 16 hours a day, well they do it then, but they msut have different responsibilities for that job, but that 7 hours a day guy is not most likely living to work but working to live. Not everyone loves to sweat and show their crack to people if they can do it faster and get out earlier the same time.

Of course, then some people say they should operate faster and still do the 8 hours, well fine let's get the good old Taylorism into use and capitalize on every single cell on a human body and fire all the 'slackers' who are not putting out enough in the motivating and innnovating high paying salary on the ****ing component assembly.

US dudes often say that the key to secret is hard work. This is often true. But you're nothing. Go to Japan. THey think you're pussies, and who do you think is happier, anbd why would that be?

Now go home, relax, make yourself a nice drink and put on your acapulco t-shirt and call up your friends.. at 4PM.

	06-02-2005 03:46									#20
	Lose 30 kilos (of popups)

DinoDoc is a slave driver.

	06-02-2005 03:47									#21
	Got spare money?

Well there are ways to work an 8 or 12 hour rotation to fit that in anyway. 8 hours generally have an hour of break in them anyway and 12 hours is usually done 3 days on and 3 days off, or equivalent.

	06-02-2005 03:48									#22
	Support Apolyton, buy Civilization 2

Well Kidicious I very much get the impression that a lot of these right wingers take up their views rather arbitrarily because bear in mind, what good is being absolutely loaded if you work so much you never get to enjoy it and you're always knackered and stressed?

	06-02-2005 03:49									#23
	Support Apolyton, buy Galactic Civilizations

So...my 60+ hours a week is bad?

	06-02-2005 03:49									#24
	Support Apolyton, buy Galactic Civilizations

NOTE: this hardly describes me though. My hours won't be 7 hours for sures. I most likely will kill myself working. Because I want to go onwards all the time. But not all people are like that. I set the amount of work needed to be done. If my folks make it earlier, then sure go home. If they make it in 7 hours, then they get the hell out before I shoot them myself. They are not allowed to be in my house longer than necessary. If I need more work to be done, I hire more people.

Naturally, there won't be too much slacking around in the working hours, so the ones who condemn it to be a failure, well, we still might get more done in those 7 effective working hours than you can in 12 hours. Because at the nature of my heart, I'm still sadist. Talking to your girlfriends on the phone on MY TIME? Come to my office RIGHT NOW. Do I pay you to talk with your friends on the phone? NO. I pay you to do the job I hired you to do. How much do you want to be here? If you don't give a crap, and you don't deliver, then get the hell out my security will beat you in the bathroom before you get out and you will leave bloody and crying with ripped clothes and you will never get a job in this area when I let my friends know, you bastard you... take this backhand *CRACK* Muhaheaheahea now go on and be a loser.

	06-02-2005 03:49									#25
	Support Apolyton, buy Civilization III: Complete

PLATO, it's certainly not healthy!

	06-02-2005 03:50									#26
	Put an end to popups!

PLATO, not if you like and you get PAID. If you have to do it and you don't get paid enough, then it is bad.

	06-02-2005 03:51									#27
	Suffering from ads?

I am a culprit for spilling over too, I admit. It just isn't practical for me to down tools at the end of a shift and leave it due to the nature of the work I do, and I do the odd Sunday which affords me with quite a lot of money - but that is completely voluntary and if I have other stuff on or can't be arsed, I don't do it. It's as simple as that...

	06-02-2005 03:53									#28
	Remove this text

...my flat working week is only 35 hours though anyway so 5 or 6 hours on a Sunday is hardly going to break me either

	06-02-2005 03:53									#29
	Support Apolyton, buy Galactic Civilizations: Deluxe Edition

PH, yeah but that's good. I mean, you choose to do it, and you get compensated on it accordingly. Just like it is supposed to be.

	06-02-2005 03:58									#30
	Support Apolyton buy from Amazon

quote: Originally posted by Pekka PLATO, not if you like and you get PAID. If you have to do it and you don't get paid enough, then it is bad.

The money is pretty good, but the stress sucks.

I am taking my 1st two days off (other than holidays) in over two years on Monday and Tuesday. Bet my phone rings all day. Now what are the French complaining about? I'd be damn happy with just 40 hours a week!