Short hours, long breaks: Are French workers lazy?

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  • Опубликовано: 14 июн 2024
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    With the 35-hour working week, ample vacation time and long lunch breaks (often with wine), French people have the reputation of being lazy. However, studies show that French workers are among the most productive in the world. So why is the myth of the work-averse French employee so persistent? Join us for this month's French Connections Plus, where we explore what it's really like to work in France.
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Комментарии • 154

  • @duke613
    @duke613 3 года назад +53

    Lazy? No it's the way life is supposed to be lived.

  • @thecitizenjoan
    @thecitizenjoan 5 лет назад +72

    My Goal in Life is too become a French Cliche

    • @patrickmcshane7658
      @patrickmcshane7658 5 лет назад +2

      Hands up!

    • @e0o9kii
      @e0o9kii 5 лет назад +2

      Better get that Red Wine and Croissants ready.

    • @erepsekahs
      @erepsekahs 4 года назад

      Try learning to spell in English first.

  • @Eusantdac
    @Eusantdac 5 лет назад +30

    So, let me get this straight: the French are not legally allowed to fish for scallops until October in their own French waters but the British are legally allowed to come into the French waters and fish for those scallops? That makes absolutely no sense.

    • @julies8813
      @julies8813 5 лет назад +3

      EU makes the decisions who and what.. Eu does not care who get and not get it. But it gets more complex.. Britain has more power and larger economy than France.. So France agreed to it because want the Britain's money and sell out on its own citizens lesser incomes on French people. So in the end you shall protest against EU for that.

    • @EvilSmonker
      @EvilSmonker 4 года назад +7

      @@julies8813 Britain and France actually have practically the same gdp, along with practically the same population. More likely quid pro quo.

    • @ihatefrogs4390
      @ihatefrogs4390 3 года назад

      the french are scared of the english..they tremble in the presence of the english..germany, ran right over france twice in two world wars, without firing a shot.

    • @saucyrossy3698
      @saucyrossy3698 Год назад

      Yeah. Welcome to the EU. None if it makes sense. Its a terrible idea and reality itself is proving that out.

    • @ericmamadou4735
      @ericmamadou4735 Год назад

      Many things in france are based on the logic you just pointed out.

  • @Desi_Des
    @Desi_Des 5 лет назад +26

    Lived in Paris for many years, speak French (although a little rusty now since I haven’t been back for 2 years) , know the culture and love the food. I have learned so much from your videos that I wasn’t aware of which is surprising. I do want to thank you very much for opening all these new doors for me and others who are interested in the French culture. Will follow you on FB and Twitter. Merci bien Mademoiselle.

  • @helenepege6043
    @helenepege6043 5 лет назад +15

    Unfortunately, those winderful labor laws aren't applied un France...let's talk about the 35 hours, for example. I'm an accountant. I've been working all my carreer well over 35 hours each week.Those hours weren't paid or converted into Rtt because they weren't legal. The major issue in France is that companies don't respect the labor laws. I ate at my desk with my collegues, worked past legal hours, had my share of illegal CDD...statistics show only what has been declared by the companies...

    • @leesteal4458
      @leesteal4458 4 года назад +4

      You guys enabled your employers.

    • @jeanfonssedeporte3158
      @jeanfonssedeporte3158 4 года назад +1

      You should have sue your employers. And maybe it is because you have a "cadre supérieur" contract, in this case you dont have maximum hours

  • @Rayschall1
    @Rayschall1 5 лет назад +27

    I've bacome a fan of Florence Villeminot. I'm so glad I've found this channel just today since I live in France for quite some time. I subscribed now. Thank you very much for interesting videos concerning France!!!

  • @jonathanmcgovern2464
    @jonathanmcgovern2464 4 года назад +21

    Counterintuitive but shorter hours longer breaks leads to more focus productivity at work. Too much focus is on number of hours.... should be in terms of productivity, not number of hours at work aka burnout, presenteeism.

    • @barnabydinosaurroadsafetyp3457
      @barnabydinosaurroadsafetyp3457 3 года назад

      I am a Brit - more productivity joke - no problem with 2 hour lunches but too many here are just a bit too relaxed about everything - seen a few who work for themselves work very hard but productivity compared to uk, germany, dutch is laughable. UK went back to work months ago here we are still on a long covid holiday. Complacent not lazy complacent.

  • @kramerberbon1804
    @kramerberbon1804 4 года назад +8

    I'm surprised 1/2 hour seems long for a lunch break. Seems normal to me.

    • @jamesfletcher474
      @jamesfletcher474 3 года назад

      Depends if you want to go home at 5:00 and see your kids or if you prefer to work till 7pm so you can have a long lunch paid for with ticketresto

  • @injektileur
    @injektileur 4 года назад +8

    it is actually 25 days off / year. Except in restaurants. And lots of holidays are nulled if they happen during a week-end. Like a july 14th on a sunday.
    So there are never 30 + X days off. Except when it comes to RTT. That part is right.

  • @richardparrington8636
    @richardparrington8636 5 лет назад +31

    Great content. Do more stuff like this please.

  • @hori166
    @hori166 3 года назад +4

    30 paid days off? In Amerika, most workers get NONE because of the mantra "Arbeit Macht Frei". The French aren't lazy, they just have different priorities. Get busy living, or get busy working...

  • @leesteal4458
    @leesteal4458 4 года назад +3

    Not true. In the USA, I don't know who takes less than a half an hour for lunch. Some offices actually close for an hour for lunch break.

  • @markjmaxwell9819
    @markjmaxwell9819 5 лет назад +5

    Well in Australia we work a 38 hour week with a minimum hour break distributed over the day.
    With four weeks paid holidays and public holidays.
    And a maximum of twelve hours per shift.
    mmmmm
    Food for thought.
    😆😆😆😆😆

    • @leesteal4458
      @leesteal4458 4 года назад +2

      Twelve hours is way too long.

  • @AlbandAquino
    @AlbandAquino 3 года назад +13

    A healthy worker is more productive than a semi present worker, trying to meet ends ...
    In France we value our time off because it's making us more committed to our work environment.
    For sure, when at work we work our arses off, but when on a lunch break, or on week end ... Don't mess with us.
    Live and let live, if you want a productive worker let him/her have some time off. You will get a good value for your money.

    • @___beyondhorizon4664
      @___beyondhorizon4664 Год назад +2

      Long lunch hours and many cigarettes breaks was what I saw in Paris...

    • @AlbandAquino
      @AlbandAquino Год назад

      @@___beyondhorizon4664 In almost every jobs, you have a mandatory 20 mins break every 2 hours. If you decide to split it in half, you can totally have your smoke every hour :)
      I'm usually doing a combo. Coffee + smoke :P And quite often, colleagues are joining to enjoy a coffe as well even if they don't smoke.

  • @iFreeThink
    @iFreeThink 3 года назад

    Monthly pay might be more appropriate for evaluating
    - buildings and
    - educational employees/texts.

  • @iFreeThink
    @iFreeThink 3 года назад

    It's fine to give tracks.
    But don't require being stuck with blocked people.

  • @leesteal4458
    @leesteal4458 4 года назад +15

    I want to work in France.

  • @CyborgZeta
    @CyborgZeta 2 месяца назад

    Man, I wish I had 30 days off here in the US.

  • @stevencarrier2466
    @stevencarrier2466 5 лет назад +6

    I Love Flo and Genie!

  • @ivermektin6874
    @ivermektin6874 Год назад

    Well this puts current events into perspective.

  • @bwb4416
    @bwb4416 3 года назад +2

    sure they are on strike 24/7

  • @saraclark5099
    @saraclark5099 5 лет назад +5

    Bonjour, where did you film this? Would be nice to Know the Name of that Restaurant, thank you

    • @d.f.991
      @d.f.991 5 лет назад

      11:59

    • @IzabelParis
      @IzabelParis 5 лет назад +3

      Le Café du Commerce, rue du Commerce, Paris 15ème

  • @piedadepais
    @piedadepais 3 года назад +2

    I’m from Portugal, I work 35 hours a week, have a 1,5 hour lunch break and 15 minutes pause int morning and the afternoon. It’s the legal work hours. 22 vacation days, and the usual holidays, Easter, Christmas, saints, and so many during the year.

  • @Ethioutforlunch
    @Ethioutforlunch Год назад

    I really love and Enjoy French connections please continue like this

  • @davepasopton8840
    @davepasopton8840 4 года назад +1

    Why does everyone interview only office type workers with programmes like these? There are many more real workers who apply practical and technical skills in various environments that must also take adequate break durations. These are just as important and possibly of more value to a country’s society and wealth creation. Bakers, Engineering craftsman, Joinery, Building, Public services etc?

    • @mihiec
      @mihiec 3 года назад +2

      Yes! Every journalist focuses only on fancy jobs in office.... Its mosty well paid easy job to do.

    • @danielbtwd
      @danielbtwd 3 года назад

      Yes I agree, I work as a welder/fabricator, I make 1 kilometres of welding per year and 50 tons of equipment with a value of 1500 000 euros. One needs the stamina of an occupational athlete. Many of my colleagues at 55/60 yrs need replacement hips, knees and shoulders. By retirement most are finished. Yes I work in France and they are hard working conscientious people. Conditions are much better than other countries that I have worked. Medical, pension, education, nice holidays, better pay and lower cost of living generally.

  • @phillipwong3754
    @phillipwong3754 Месяц назад

    There's a reason why most of the western countries are running on deficit with YoY growth on borrowing.

  • @georgegrigoriu5114
    @georgegrigoriu5114 5 лет назад +1

    All that matters is how much one produces, not how much time he stays in an office. Just look at the Germans. They don't work the most time but they have the best outputs because they are the most efficient.

  • @wahidullahzadran2149
    @wahidullahzadran2149 5 лет назад +4

    🤘✌I love you English French❤❤❤❤🤩🤩🤩🤩

  • @goxdie000
    @goxdie000 5 лет назад +7

    In Mexico lunch breaks are an hour long!!!

    • @TheRiceIndustry
      @TheRiceIndustry 4 года назад +2

      But you dont get paid for that hour so it really doesnt matter

    • @Kanal7Indonesia
      @Kanal7Indonesia 4 года назад +1

      With siestas? 😍

    • @jamesfletcher474
      @jamesfletcher474 3 года назад +1

      Depends when you want to go home! I'm England I had 30mind and finished at 5pm, in France I have to take 2hrs and finish at 7pm which sucks. Trust me the french are not efficient it's just they have to pay mega business taxes do it makes the companies look profitable where really everything is just a rip off. They spend more time working and getting there and back than the English do

  • @williambilltran3528
    @williambilltran3528 5 лет назад +2

    Awesome!!!

  • @iFreeThink
    @iFreeThink 3 года назад

    People are claiming the randomest stories and royalty whatever.

  • @iFreeThink
    @iFreeThink 3 года назад +1

    They should be with tax exams.
    Random people who don't even serve food to hungry Hippos.

  • @chris14091975
    @chris14091975 4 года назад +7

    I love how they prove the stereotypes

  • @goodbarbenie5477
    @goodbarbenie5477 2 года назад +1

    Ahem...I had the worst job in my life in S.Africa...where I wasn't even allowed one day off because illness. They still took a whole day's pay off. I was also forced to use up all my accumulated leave. I wasn't even allowed to visit the toilet...I was not even paid overtime...Even working on weekends doing stock staking etc. I was never remunerated for that at all...When I needed help or assistance in my work I was punished as being incapable or inept for doing my work... When I approached the labour department in N.W. province they laughted and sniggered at me in their language...No salvation... For a White Englishman...hah... Life can be bummer when U least expect it of people...Hahaa... Knowing what I just learnt from this program, I would preferred to have been lost in France...even though I cannot speak a word...Hahaa... LuvU. Guys...

  • @lex2151
    @lex2151 Год назад

    Please kindly add closed captioning for disabled viewers.

  • @myyoutube5567
    @myyoutube5567 2 года назад

    Mais, C'est loin.

  • @thierryf67
    @thierryf67 4 года назад

    "fonctionnaires" don't have higher wages. this is full of private worker cliché.

    • @danielbtwd
      @danielbtwd 3 года назад +1

      They are paid more for the kind of work that they do. Plus all the advantages.

    • @popkhorne5372
      @popkhorne5372 3 года назад

      @@danielbtwd wrong, at least for teachers. They are actually underpaid.

  • @PrinsTan
    @PrinsTan 4 года назад +2

    25 days not 30.

  • @violetgruner707
    @violetgruner707 5 лет назад +8

    In America you do not dare ask for more vacation time. You would be labelled a Communist and told to leave the country. You would be called "lazy" and thus your morals would be questioned.

  • @lamijojo7003
    @lamijojo7003 3 года назад

    A question to the English native speakers: does the interwiever Florence has a French accent when she speaks English?

    • @jamesfeww
      @jamesfeww 3 года назад

      No, her accent isn't noticeable at all.

    • @life_lab_chronicles
      @life_lab_chronicles Год назад

      No. No accent. She sounds like a native speaker of North American English.

  • @tobeytransport2802
    @tobeytransport2802 3 года назад

    1:20 that’s not quite true. I’m from the UK and I believe that in the US because of their federal system it appears that they get 0 days holiday but that is just the federal limit, the states can (and probably do) set limits however they probably aren’t as good as the UK or the EU (and definitely not as good as France)

  • @m.j.golden4522
    @m.j.golden4522 2 года назад

    So not true about the money making in France. People make money and they just consider it as important as taking a bite of bread. It's nonchalant. And that's the way it should be. They don't worship money and they should keep it that way.

  • @jamesfletcher474
    @jamesfletcher474 3 года назад

    Short hours??? Not true at all, 9-7

  • @nanaprt61
    @nanaprt61 5 лет назад +5

    I love this country.

  • @iFreeThink
    @iFreeThink 3 года назад

    There goes leading the UK.

  • @mage5890
    @mage5890 4 года назад +1

    Really I'm a bit disappointed...
    Some comments are really friendly (maybe too much 😆, but that's welcome 😊), whereas others are soooooo disrespectful!! 😭😭
    I guess it's the same everywhere in the world, some people are indeed arrogant or else in France (and all over the world), but not all people, please! That's mean to say that and false for sure!!
    I hope you will meet nice people 😊👊
    Have a good day 😘🇨🇵

  • @SilvanaDil
    @SilvanaDil 5 лет назад +17

    A bit more work and France's per capita GDP could be higher.

    • @ke8814
      @ke8814 5 лет назад +14

      And a lot more work and France's gdp per capita could be even higher.
      Work is necessary for us to live, but life is much more than work. Remember you only have one life, 110k income instead of 100k income won't bring back lost years.

    • @remicaillot
      @remicaillot 5 лет назад +10

      Having financial success in france doesn't mean having a successful life for everyone

    • @CameronCourts
      @CameronCourts 5 лет назад +9

      But most of those gains would go to the rich. People wouldn't necessarily be better off.

    • @danielbtwd
      @danielbtwd 3 года назад

      You would just be taxed more.

    • @ltgdr6298
      @ltgdr6298 3 года назад

      in france if you lose you job you get 80% of you salary for up to 3years, You also have free healtcare, eduction and tons of other right providing you money on top of your monthly earnings.
      Your monthly earnings dosent mean how well you live.
      If your kid need a brain surgery that cost 500k living in UE is buy far the way to go.

  • @Beestist
    @Beestist 5 лет назад

    Competition seeking top talents should dictate vacation days, not the law.

  • @redadermane8177
    @redadermane8177 2 года назад +2

    It's not a myth folks. it's a fact ! it's a mixture of laziness and a system that is "too socialized" , discouraging ambition and hard work. you add to it the overly hierarchical working environment: if you have a lower education degree , you can almost never hope to do better. you're blocked by an idiotic system. while in the US, you can say : " if i work hard, smart and persist, i can succeed", it's the opposite in France. they're happy with an income and hope to get a raise by stabbing their coworkers in the back, licking asses to get upper. i know it happens in the US also. but in France it's a culture.
    i've been living in France for the last 2 years. i travel all the time around for work. so i talk from experience. and i speak French fluently.
    Government workers (fonctionnaires) are "Gods": they do whatever they want, whenever the hell they want. just check how long it takes to get a simple "passport" , ID card or drivers license-copy. or anything issued by a government office for that matter. i have French friends that still hold to their very old drivers license (paper made) because it can take weeks, or even months, just to get it renewed. same for passports...etc. now , tell me that's not laziness and inefficiency !
    indeed, the health care system is socialized, and sounds great when you say it. but good luck getting an appointment with a doctor. i had to call 7 dentists for a tooth abscess, no one would take me in. finally i had to go to the emergency room and wait for hours before i could be seen by a doctor. same thing with many specialists. customer service here is a joke. very unprofessional, rude and inefficient.
    I can go on and on, and i dare anyone to contradict these facts. i can't wait for my contract to end to go back home without losing my job.
    I advice any fellow American to think hundreds of times before deciding to live or stay in France for a long time. even tourism, i always recommend my friends who want to visit Europe, to choose Spain, Netherlands, Italy or northern countries. at least you can have some fun without headaches.

  • @bwb4416
    @bwb4416 3 года назад

    ohhhh so sorry! 39, I am so sorry , the French are so stressed out uh? 39 uh

  • @GJ-ho2hy
    @GJ-ho2hy 3 года назад

    I disagree fundamentally, french are very similar to the americans actually. Having worked with French and for a french firm, they are the only ones working crazy overtimes, judging those who leave home on time and think they are productive because of the long hours. Awful corporate culture really..definitely not european

  • @Vietnam-mintDotCom
    @Vietnam-mintDotCom 3 года назад +1

    French services are lousy!

  • @xz1891
    @xz1891 4 года назад +1

    Hopeless

  • @CalebMcCarthy
    @CalebMcCarthy 4 года назад +3

    I want to become a French Fonctionnaire

    • @ornella6243
      @ornella6243 4 года назад +3

      I'm French and what they about functionaires isn't totally correct. Because if you have fewer hours you have a small fee, you got an earlier retirement it's with a lower pension, and you can have bigger pensions only if you succeed prestigious public Concours or prestigious public school

    • @ornella6243
      @ornella6243 4 года назад +3

      Oh and I forgot that you not pay and you don't receive more "congé payée" if you work more than 35h per week in practice

  • @kukamusa1947
    @kukamusa1947 4 года назад +5

    Too many holidays because free money and minerals from Africa..3.5 billion a year

    • @xxxxxx-kk7mh
      @xxxxxx-kk7mh 4 года назад

      @C. Michael false

    • @ltgdr6298
      @ltgdr6298 3 года назад +2

      3.5billion a years are joking ? sociale help that is mostly use for migrant is 700billions... you are so funny with your 3 billions

    • @popkhorne5372
      @popkhorne5372 3 года назад +1

      Which is a ridiculously small sum. For a country like france.

  • @Vietnam-mintDotCom
    @Vietnam-mintDotCom 3 года назад +1

    France has the lowest paid earnings and poverty is increasing.

    • @ltgdr6298
      @ltgdr6298 3 года назад +1

      in france if you lose you job you get 80% of you salary for up to 3years, You also have free healtcare, eduction and tons of other right providing you money on top of your monthly earnings.

    • @stud6414
      @stud6414 3 года назад +1

      @@ltgdr6298 why work if you'll get a salary for not working? Also, France lives in a greater global complex so they don't have to innovate or work hard because countries like USA will pull up the slack.

  • @jamesb312
    @jamesb312 5 лет назад +12

    How can they be lazy, they are constantly active in being on strike...it also takes a lot of effort to be so rude and arrogant!!

    • @frederic4844
      @frederic4844 5 лет назад +3

      jamesb312
      Well, you have just proven that the french are not the only one being rude and arrogant, well done !!!

    • @jamesb312
      @jamesb312 5 лет назад +1

      This is from a French funded channel...I stand by my assertion that the French are rude, lazy, arrogant and cowardly when, in fact, the French have nothing to be arrogant about. France is a disaster area!!
      France is known to be the strike capital of the World..SNCF are always on strike.

    • @frederic4844
      @frederic4844 5 лет назад +4

      jamesb312
      A statement, not a proper reference.
      And, congrats, you have just made my point again ...

    • @jamesb312
      @jamesb312 5 лет назад +1

      Oh but yes, it's a proper reference..I unfortunately got stuck in France
      and had to deal with the bloody French on a day to day basis..I have
      lived all over the World and I have never met a people as bad as the
      bloody French!!

    • @frederic4844
      @frederic4844 5 лет назад +1

      jamesb312
      Oh, so it’s an opinion, not a fact ... I knew that some people tend to confuse anecdots with data ...

  • @MrACPAHMADALI
    @MrACPAHMADALI 4 года назад

    Le français est très difficile.

  • @jamesb312
    @jamesb312 5 лет назад +9

    France is not a free market economy, it's rife with protectionism...it could account why the French economy is such a mess...For crying out loud they even dictate when shops can have sales and frown on commercial competition,

    • @fredericlallinec7450
      @fredericlallinec7450 4 года назад

      Like Brexit it is the mess
      Like Trump government is he Staline or Adolf Hitler?
      And many Americans or British are in poverty and lower educated, almost illetrate
      I

    • @danielbtwd
      @danielbtwd 3 года назад

      Actually the French economy is on a par with that of the UK. They also enjoy one of the highest standards of living in the world. There are also many wealthy people, just look along the French Riviera. Of course there are problems like everywhere.

  • @rodionkulichenko4211
    @rodionkulichenko4211 4 года назад +2

    So basically the stereotypes are true! okay

  • @nicksincredibleopinion
    @nicksincredibleopinion 5 лет назад +6

    Lol, American here. We have time off, we just negotiate that for ourselves. If you have no skills, probably not worth anything to your boss. Hey, France, how is your innovation of new industries going with all those days off? LMFAO

    • @ashleatenny2719
      @ashleatenny2719 5 лет назад +7

      Is that an east coast thing? Everywhere I've ever worked they just told you which holidays you get off, and paid vacations are accrued based on hours worked, non- negotiable. And even then you get ridiculed and gossiped about if you dare take more than 2 or 3 days in a row off, even if you have weeks, or even months, of accrued time.

    • @JM-nt5ex
      @JM-nt5ex 3 года назад +1

      There is no such thing as "negotiating for yourself". You're either in a union or you get what you get.