France says 35-hour week is failing

PARIS -- The French government Monday described the 35-hour working week as a financial disaster that was costing the state billions of dollars and promised to reform the system despite fierce union opposition.

The finance minister, Nicolas Sarkozy, said that the 35-hour week had burdened the state with additional social charges and that it had demoralized millions of workers.

"The Socialists made a decision which is not compatible with our responsibilities to Europe," he said. He suggested a system whereby those who wanted to stay on the 35-hour week could do so, but those who wanted to work and earn more had greater latitude.

The 35-hour week came into effect in 1997, as the Socialists' idea for reducing unemployment. Unemployment now is just under 10 percent

http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-france18.html

I read that German firms are struggling too, with their reduced work week. I was really hoping that would work, so that there would be the slightest chance it might catch on in the U.S. Looks pretty unlikely now.

we in Australia have a 38 hour working week (I think) and it doesn't seem to be causing any special problems here. I don't know if I could cope with the US system of working your butt off all week for only 2 weeks a year vacation...

I don't honestly know anybody who gets a paid vacation, two weeks or otherwise. You might be able to wrangle some unpaid time off now and then here in the states, but the underclass doesn't get paid vacations (or healthcare or retirement benefits, etc...).

But 3 weeks paid vacation is pretty standard in my field. Upper level guys get 4.

Then I'd say you ARE lucky. You are also in the minority in the US.

Not to belittle anyone else's efforts, but I busted my ass to get where I am today. My career wasn't handed to me by anyone in any way.

But at the taxi company where I work, we're up to our eyeballs in post-graduate degree holders and former IT workers. Luck may indeed have something to do with it nowdays, especially when it comes to keeping that profession.

and still don't have professions. My husband counts himself very lucky that he has a good job in the IT field right now. In this economy, luck plays a big hand. There are a lot of educated, highly skilled people working at WalMart these days.

He works at a limestone plant owned by Pfizer. Has been there for 31 years. Makes somewhere around $25 an hr plus time and a half after 8 hrs per day and double time for holidays. Has medical and stock shares provided by the company and will receive a substantial monthly amount when he decides to retire. He is one of the lucky ones.

or cops or firemen, or government workers?

:shrug:

Max 29-hour week for a school teacher (less for a prof in college or hightschool) :

vacations:
Februar : 2 weeks
April : 2 weeks
Summer : 9 weeks
November : 1 week
Christmas : 2 weeks

but teachers here don't get two weeks paid vacation.

When school is out for the summer, they are off the clock and not getting paid unless they teach summer school or have their ten-month pay amortized over twelve months.

My husband works 60-67 hrs a week and gets one week off/yr. Well, he's supposed to... but due to lay-offs, he hasn't had a week of paid vacation in 3 yrs.

1/2 day Thursday, Friday, 1/2 day Tuesday

And it's not allowed to sell back more than one of them, and you are STRONGLY encouraged to take the time you're allotted. (More like required.)

It's 2 weeks after one year, 3 after 5 years, 4 after 12 years, and 5 weeks after 20, plus one day per 5 years beyond 20. So, i get 26 days this year.

The company firmly believes that people should NOT work continuously, since productivity drops and people get burned out, so taking vacation time is more than encouraged, it's practically insisted upon.
The Professor

Next year it's five.

I actually like working so I rarely take any; usually one week a year with a few long weekends. I can sell the weeks back to the company at set intervals.

badmouthing of the legacy of its Socialist predecesor.

Just thought I'd point that out.

because the law is too stiff and more latitude is a necessity for many jobs. The cost of this stiffness is too heavy and it must be to reduce

Between 6 mini to 8 or 9 (more in some public jobs).

I don't believe many French will choose to work and earn more. The life is too short and we have now bad habits. The restaurants, hotels... work during a longer time per year.

Sarkozy forgets a point : the French productivity is one of the best in the world with these 35 h because we have to do the same in less time without more employees, and they have had no effect for reducing unemployment

and drive the 35 hr workers out of jobs due to a competitive advantage.

The current employees will be safe, but all new hires will IMHO be competitng with 40 hr workers, and may get "crushed beneath the wheel of progress" as Herman Hesse put it.