Posted on 06/27/2012 1:38:04 AM PDT by Cincinna
Despite the euro crisis becoming increasingly dire as European governments scramble to patch up the broken banking system in Spain and shore up sovereign debt and budget deficits, French citizens still overwhelmingly want to go on vacation this summer.
According to an l’Institut Français d’Opinion Publique (IFOP) poll, 73 percent of French citizens — a sizeable increase from last year — are still considering going on vacation this summer, with nearly a quarter saying that vacations of “three weeks” are ideal.
If you thought the French weren’t belt-tightening, however, you’d be wrong. More French citizens seem to prefer shorter vacations this summer. Those preferring one-week vacations grew from 13 percent in July 2010 to 21 percent in June 2012. Those preferring two-week vacations grew from 27 percent in July 2010 to 38 percent in June 2012.
France is known for having a rigid labor market and generous vacation times and employee benefits. However, these policies have contributed to a lack of competitiveness in the French economy and the country’s credit downgrading in January.
In fact, Standard and Poor’s singled out ”labor market rigidities” when explaining the reasons for France’s credit downgrade in January from “AAA” to “AA+,” according to Reuters. Labor costs in France are among the highest in the euro zone. The New York Times notes that even the World Bank has warned that French labor costs are “too high given the relatively small numbers of hours people work” and that the “situation was not sustainable amid fast-rising competition from Asia, Eastern Europe and other low-cost countries.”
Former French President Nicholas Sarkozy promised to reform labor markets back in 2007. But labor costs remain high, and current French President Francois Hollande is resisting pressure for labor market reform.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailycaller.com ...
Considering the Occupy and 99-week unemployment loafers here in the States, I don’t think we’re in a position to bitch about the French.
The US needs a good workman’s kick in the ass. To Hell with the entitlement crowd. Those self-serving jackwagons are destroying all that is good with America — dag namit!
I say another few years France will be an Islamic state. Muzzies are probably laughing at each other “Can you believe how easy this is?”
Ze French.....ptoooey....iz wat I sez.
Hag 1:6 Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes.
The wanton nature of socialism....even more than enough is not enough to satisfy....basic human rights ya know.
Thanks Cincinna. Have a great day, all!
I doubt anyone would work extra time in such situation.
Do they still have the 35 hour work week? Forcing employers to pay for 40 hours of work while getting only 35 hours worth in return can’t be good for an economy.
The socialists have, in large measure, attained every pipe-dream they had in the 60s. Unfortunately, the economic model that views the primary purpose of companies as employers and providers of generous benefits kind of side-steps reality.
Heck...I could “settle” for a three week vacation....let alone FIVE!!!!!LOL
Where do I apply?!!!
If it works why fix it?
France seems to be doing fine compared to other countries in Europe.
If they’re able to sustain themselves on 5 weeks why begrudge them?
90%+ of the best frames are made in Italy. Back then, the factories would be completely shut down in July and August so no new frames were shipped. Only what was already stocked in US warehouses.
If frames were ordered in July, it could take until September to get one that wasn't in stock. Sometimes you wouldn't get them at all after being promised for months. That would make everyone down the line look bad. Even more ridiculous is that you could not order many of the most popular sunglasses by mid-summer. Everyone lost lots of business because of the closures.
Naturally, most of the cheaper frames are now being made in China to Italian specs. Most are in now stock and there is much less of a “lost summer” for optics retailers. I'm sure those who ran the factories in Italy feel stupid now...
And they will NOT feel ANY obligation to pay infidels their pensions.
Seems like a previous life, but when I was out of college I worked for a German hydraulic seal company.
They had a lot of interesting products, very high quality, but their delivery time was 8-12 weeks. In August, they just shut down, so add 4 weeks. Then it took much of September to fully ramp up production, so probably add another 2. Of course, the Christmas holiday season was but a few months later...
You can imagine what it’s like to tell a customer that it will take 18 weeks just to make the part (about 35% of a year, BTW), and then you have to import it and clear it through customs.
Most people could have understood with large machinery/ships/etc. that have a planned annual maintenance and parts ordered well in advance. But the smaller stuff? You can get the cylinder remachined almost anywhere in the U.S., to fit whatever’s on the shelf at any competitor, in less than 18 weeks, and once that cylinder’s been altered, you’re no longer a vendor pretty much forever.
We struggled for years trying to get them to understand they were slowly bleeding to death by their own hand. Made some headway, but the union over there wasn’t convinced and resisted any sort of change, and the government and banks backed the union (at least that’s what we were told).
They eventually went under a few years after I left, after something like 100+ years of continuous business.
New vacation rule this year.
If during your vacation, you get sick enough to see a doctor, you are now allowed additional vacation time equal to the convalescent time.
so, Obama’s really French ?
Thanjs for pointing thus out. Yes, it’s really true! Announced by the socialist Hollande government this week!
It is the Magicians Trick of the seen and the unseen.
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