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Laziness 'is easy' for French electricity worker
Ananova ^ | July 29, 2004

Posted on 07/29/2004 9:58:50 AM PDT by Area Freeper

A French electricity worker is facing a disciplinary hearing after publishing a book that shows you how to survive in French corporate culture without doing any work.

In Bonjour Paresse (Hello Laziness), Corinne Maier advises her readers to choose really 'useless' jobs as consultants, advisers, or experts.

And she says the best way to avoid people asking what you have been doing all day is to arrive with a bundle of files under your arm.

Ms Maier swipes at middle management, includes chapter heading such as 'Corporate Culture - Stupid People', and sums it all up by saying: "You don't have much to lose if you don't do much at work."

But the economic adviser's bosses at French electricity board EDF, currently undergoing partial privatisation, think the book reflects badly on them.

Next month they are due to grill her in a disciplinary hearing.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Extended News; Foreign Affairs
KEYWORDS: france; socialism

1 posted on 07/29/2004 9:58:55 AM PDT by Area Freeper
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To: Area Freeper

And last year, 15,000 died from the heat in france due to the policies and incompetence of the french electricy system.


2 posted on 07/29/2004 10:00:31 AM PDT by flashbunny
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To: Area Freeper

Call it surviving socialism for dummies.


3 posted on 07/29/2004 10:02:53 AM PDT by bad company ((<a href="http://www.michaelmoore.com" target="_blank">Hatriotism))
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To: Area Freeper

Lazy is easy for French PERIOD!


4 posted on 07/29/2004 10:06:11 AM PDT by scooter2
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To: Area Freeper

She should have known the one cardinal sin in France is telling the truth!


5 posted on 07/29/2004 10:07:15 AM PDT by Redbob
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To: Area Freeper

I had a modified version of this when I was on my first ship in the Navy. I was in charge of keeping up the division's fire fighting and repair equipment.

I would work M-Th to get all my work done before the work week ran out and I had to work on the weekend to finish.

Sometimes I'd finish on Thu and sometimes I'd finish Fri. and occasionally I'd finish over the weekend.

But others in the division would never finish their work before the week ended.

"Hey, Ernie's done with his work, let's get him to help out."

I learned fast to look busy after I finished my assigned workload by carrying a bucket full of tools wherever I went.

Does this make me French?


6 posted on 07/29/2004 10:09:12 AM PDT by TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig (You can turn your head away from the Berg video and still hear Al Queda's calls to prayer.)
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To: Area Freeper

Wow...talk about adding insult to injury...they are going to grill her...NEXT month.


7 posted on 07/29/2004 10:11:31 AM PDT by blanknoone (Kerry is Bin Laden's Man, Bush is Mine.)
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To: TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig

I think your military service effectively negates any possibility of your being French.


8 posted on 07/29/2004 10:14:48 AM PDT by ICX (Liberal boys never try to make a move on pretty girls without the UN Security Council's approval.)
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To: ICX; TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig
I think your military service effectively negates any possibility of your being French.

..TOUCHE!! :))

9 posted on 07/29/2004 10:20:04 AM PDT by skinkinthegrass (Just because you're paranoid, doesn't mean they aren't out to get you :)
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To: TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig
I learned fast to look busy after I finished my assigned workload by carrying a bucket full of tools wherever I went.

I found out that a clipboard adds an air of legitimacy. I never had a Chief question me as I walked across the equipment yard to go hang out with my buddies at the wash rack, as long as I glanced at a clipboard with work orders from time to time as I walked.
10 posted on 07/29/2004 10:21:55 AM PDT by cryptical
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To: cryptical

Yeah, I always carried the PMS card also. You've got to look the part.


11 posted on 07/29/2004 10:26:32 AM PDT by TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig (You can turn your head away from the Berg video and still hear Al Queda's calls to prayer.)
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To: Area Freeper

Its not a French thing. If an organisation (any organisation, any country) is allowed to suck indiscrimately from the engorged teat of public funding, it's going end up sclerotic and useless, with a overload of useless people - especially management types. Don't get me started on the NHS.

Corrine - good for you, cheri. Talking Truth to Power, for real.


12 posted on 07/29/2004 10:33:26 AM PDT by agere_contra
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To: flashbunny

But keep in mind that in America we have a few Wallys as in Dilbert land. He appears to have a Frog counterpart.


13 posted on 07/29/2004 10:33:44 AM PDT by bert (Peace is only halftime !)
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To: agere_contra

Amen to that. This could be a picture of the organization where I work. Image beore mission I call it, where it's more important to be nice than productive. The remark about consultants in my experience is right on the mark.


14 posted on 07/29/2004 10:42:59 AM PDT by kas2591 (Life's harder when you're stupid.)
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To: TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig

It sounds like you were working for the French even though you don't sound French yourself.


15 posted on 07/29/2004 11:04:31 AM PDT by pragmatic_asian
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To: bert

The funny thing is, if you've ever rear any of Scott Adam's biographical stuff as posted on his website, it would seem that he was at least as much Wally as Dilbert.


16 posted on 07/29/2004 11:09:03 AM PDT by -YYZ-
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To: cryptical
I worked offshore, as an electrician, for ten years.

When all maintenance and repairs were tended to, we would hang out in the shop. I was the only one who didn't smoke or drink coffee.

When the boss would come down with a job, well....Bill was on a coffee break, and Tom was on a cigarette break, but laotzu...why your just goofing off!

That is why I smoke today.

17 posted on 07/29/2004 11:27:32 AM PDT by laotzu
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