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France's compulsory 35-hour week is no more!
French workers were in mourning yesterday for their cherished but controversial 35-hour week, after Nicolas Sarkozy's centre-right party pushed through an employment reform that effectively kills off one of the socialist era's defining policies.
The law, due to come into effect as early as August, will allow companies to decide how many hours and how much overtime their employees clock up every week. Instead of the current maximum of 218 days a year, white-collar workers could be expected to work as many as 235 days.
Sarkozy, who was elected last year with the campaign slogan "work more to earn more", regards the 35-hour week as a major drag on the French economy, arguing that those who want to work more should not be stopped from doing so.
Xavier Bertrand, the employment minister, said yesterday that the vote was a step on France's road to modernisation. "We wanted to put an end to the rigidity of the job market," he told French radio. "Before, you had a situation where employees who wanted to work more couldn't, and they couldn't earn more."
But the law was greeted with scepticism by unions and leftwing politicians, who voted against what one described as a project that would "inevitably lead to the worsening of employees' working conditions". Martine Billard, a Green MP, attacked the "vengeful spirit" of Sarkozy's UMP for getting rid of the flagship socialist policy and effectively authorising a working week of 48 hours. "All those social battles have gone up in smoke," she said.
The 35-hour week, brought in 10 years ago by Lionel Jospin's Socialist government, has retained its popularity among most workers, even though in practice many of them often exceed their limit. Supporters say it has created more jobs and allowed them to maintain a better work/life balance than other countries.
Sarkozy, who came to power promising a "rupture" with France's past, has argued the cap on hours hampers productivity. However, aware that many voters see it as an integral part of their lifestyle, he has not abolished the limit altogether. Rather, the measures allow companies to strike deals with unions and employees on a maximum number of working days and overtime. Employers will be able to negotiate a working week of 48 hours, with every hour over 35 counted as overtime.
Unions said smaller companies would be most affected by the changes because it would be easier to make arrangements between their staff and management. "In the big companies, no one wants to renegotiate the 35 hours and reopen Pandora's Box," said Philippe Jaeger of the CFE-CGC union. "But in the small and mid-sized firms, it will be different."
Also voted into law was a reform which aims to lower unemployment by taking away benefits from anyone who refuses two offers of work that the authorities deem "reasonable". French workers were in mourning yesterday for their cherished but controversial 35-hour week, after Nicolas Sarkozy's centre-right par... more -
US county considers four-day workweek
I love it!! Had written on this topic about a month or so ago, and my hope that this trend would catch on across the US (see http://current.com/items/88990263_calling_al_gore_4_day.... Fairfax County has the distinction of being a "green county" so this is not surprising:
"Board of Supervisors member Gerald W. Hyland (D-Mount Vernon) yesterday proposed studying whether Fairfax should follow the lead of Utah and some other governments in adopting a workweek of four 10-hour days instead of the traditional slate of five eight-hour days.
Fairfax could save energy costs by powering down computers and heating and cooling systems one additional day a week, Hyland said. Employees could save fuel costs by commuting four days instead of five. And the county could reduce its contribution to global warming by lowering greenhouse gas emissions, he added."
Credits: Photograph by Tom Saunders, VDOT I love it!! Had written on this topic about a month or so ago, and my hope that this trend would catch on across the US (see http://c... more -
The French are set to work harder: vote revokes 35-hour week
France's parliament has passed a law which effectively ends the country's compulsory 35-hour working week, the BBC reports.
" The new law will allow companies to strike individual deals with unions on working hours and overtime.
Since coming into office last year, President Nicolas Sarkozy has blamed the 35-hour week for damaging France's economic competitiveness.
Introduced 10 years ago by the then Socialist government, polls show most French still support the 35-hour week."
What would you rather? A statutory 35-hour working week (that's just seven hours a day!) so you didn't have to feel bad for wanting a life as well as a career, or a fiercely competitive stake in the world market?
France's parliament has passed a law which effectively ends the country's compulsory 35-hour working week, the BBC reports. ... more -
How About Working 4 Days A Week?
I was reading around today and came across an article about Utah state jobs. It appears that they are moving to a 4 day work week for many state workers to save money on energy costs. By shutting down the buildings on Friday, they can reduce the costs by 1/5th but still be just as effective.
This got me thinking, why can’t I work a 4 day week? I decided to come up with a proposal on why this would be better.
My Proposal
I could easily get all my work done with 4 10 hour days. I would actually be even more effective. I put together some diagrams showing my productivity throughout the week.
5 Day Work Week
As you can clearly see, the productivity percentage of my typical week is an upside down V. I come in on Monday and barely move, peak on Wednesday, and am back down to almost nothing by Friday. Not very effective if you ask me.
4 Day Work Week
Now look at that! If I worked only 4 days a week, the overall productivity levels would be much higher. By Thursday, I would be pumped about the 3 day weekend coming up. That would push my productivity through the roof each week. I was reading around today and came across an article about Utah state jobs. It appears that they are moving to a 4 day work week for ... more -
Hard times prompt women to step away from the work force
Across the country, women in their prime earning years, struggling with an unfriendly economy, are retreating from the work force, either permanently or for long stretches.
They had piled into jobs in growing numbers since the 1960s. But that stopped happening this decade, and as the nearly 7-year-old recovery gives way to hard times, the retreat is likely to accelerate.
......"When we saw women starting to drop out in the early part of this decade, we thought it was the motherhood movement, women staying home to raise their kids," said Heather Boushey, a senior economist at the Joint Economic Committee of Congress, which did the congressional study. "We did not think it was the economy, but when we looked into it, we realized that it was."....
See the whole story over at the link...
-By LOUIS UCHITELLE
New York Times Across the country, women in their prime earning years, struggling with an unfriendly economy, are retreating from the work force, eit... more -
How to treat the 5 most common headaches - Health - MSNBC.com
It's critical to identify which type of headache you suffer from so that the correct treatment can be prescribed. In one 2004 study, 80 percent of patients with a recent history of self-described or doctor-diagnosed sinus headache — but none of the signs of sinus infection — actually met the criteria for migraine. And two-thirds of those patients expressed dissatisfaction with the medications they were using to treat their headaches. Health.com has a cheat sheet to help you put a name to your pain and how to treat it.
Tension headaches
Tension headaches, the most common type, feel like a constant ache or pressure around the head, especially at the temples or back of the head and neck. Not as severe as migraines, they are not usually accompanied by nausea and vomiting, and they rarely stop someone from continuing their regular activities.
What to do: Over-the-counter treatments, such as aspirin, ibuprofen or acetaminophen (Tylenol), are usually sufficient to treat tension headaches, which experts believe may be caused by contraction of neck and scalp muscles (including in response to stress), and possibly changes in brain chemicals.
Cluster headaches
Cluster headaches, which affect men more often than women, are recurring headaches that occur in groups or cycles. The headaches appear suddenly and are characterized by severe, debilitating pain on one side of the head, often accompanied by a watery eye and nasal congestion or a runny nose on the same side of the face. During an attack, sufferers are often restless and unable to get comfortable and not likely to lie down the way someone with a migraine usually does. The cause of cluster headaches is unknown, but they may have some genetic component.
What to do: There is no cure, but medications such as Verapamil or Lithium can reduce the frequency and duration of attacks. Breathing in 100 percent oxygen can also treat these headaches in many cases.
Sinus headaches
When a sinus becomes inflamed, usually through an infection, it can cause pain. It usually comes with a fever, and can — if necessary — be diagnosed by MRI or CT scan (which can both detect changes in fluid levels), or by the presence of pus viewed through a fiber-optic scope.
What to do: Headaches due to sinus infection can be treated with antibiotics, as well as antihistamines or decongestants.
Rebound headaches
Overuse of painkillers for headaches can, ironically, lead to rebound headaches. Culprits include over-the-counter medications like aspirin, acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), as well as prescription drugs. One theory is that too much medication can cause the brain to shift into an excited state, triggering more headaches. Another is that the headaches are a symptom of withdrawal as the level of medicine drops in the bloodstream.
What to do: The most effective treatment is to slowly wean yourself off headache medicines — especially painkillers. Even better is prevention: Do not use any acute headache medicine more than 10 days per month.
Migraine headaches
Migraine headaches come from a neurological disorder that can run in families and are defined by certain criteria.
At least five previous episodes of headaches
Lasting between four hours and 72 hours
Having at least two out of four of these features: one-sided pain, throbbing pain, moderate-to-severe pain, and pain that interferes with, is worsened by, or prohibits routine activity
Having at least one associated feature: nausea and/or vomiting, or, if those are not present, then sensitivity to light and sound.
What to do: Mild migraines may respond to over-the-counter medicines like ibuprofen or naproxen, or acetaminophen. For more severe migraines a prescription medicine may be required. It's critical to identify which type of headache you suffer from so that the correct treatment can be prescribed. In one 2004 study, 8... more -
Hi-tech is turning us all into time wasters
Professor Joseph Ferrari of DePaul University in Chicago says that one in five of us now suffer from "chronic procrastination", which leads to depression, and anxiety.
"The subject is seen as joke,' he says, 'But the social and economic implications are huge. These people need therapy. They need to change the way they act and think.'
So what's the cause of this epidemic? Some researchers feel that our hi-tech world provides far too many distractions for people. Research by Professor Piers Steel from Calgary University says that even the beep notification for a new email is causing a 0.5 per cent drop in gross domestic product in the United States, costing the economy $70bn a year!
Do you suffer from chronic procrastination? If so make sure you actually comment on this thread and let us know. Professor Joseph Ferrari of DePaul University in Chicago says that one in five of us now suffer from "chronic procrastination", which ... more -
Older employees 'happier at work' than the young?
Older workers are the happiest employees, research commissioned by Vodafone suggests.
Seven out of 10 workers aged over 50 said they felt fulfilled compared with half of 25 to 31-year-olds. And 97% of those working beyond 65 said they felt "enabled" in their work against 61% of 31 to 35-year-olds.
The research, based on a survey of 3,800 people, suggested that people in their thirties expressed the most negative feelings about work.
Of this age group, 58% felt undervalued, 49% felt unfulfilled and 43% said they were de-motivated.
The report said that mid-career depression was brought on by the pressures of starting a family. In contrast, older people reported a "second burst" once they got through the pressures of the family life stage.
Mark Bond, director of enterprise for Vodafone, said the report demonstrated that more should be done to empathise with and understand those in the middle of their careers.
This was necessary "not only for their sake but for the benefit of the companies they work for", he said. "These people are, after all, the leaders of tomorrow."
The report also warned that those born since 1980 would face "inevitable disillusionment" as they hit their thirties.
"This young cohort is indeed highly ambitious and wants to succeed in a shorter time frame than ever," said Sonia Abrahams, senior research consultant at Opinion Leader, one of the companies that carried out the research.
"But with these new, higher expectations comes the risk of greater disappointment."
Excellent - I've certainly got a lot to look forward to then! What age group are you, and how do you feel about work? At what point in your life have you felt happiest and most fulfilled by work? Have you ever?
Older workers are the happiest employees, research commissioned by Vodafone suggests. ... more -
FILM > John and Jane
Filmmaker Ashim Ahluwalia's documentary "John and Jane" (aka "John and Jane Toll Free" for distribution in the United States -- fittingly) offers a revealing portrait of young call center employees working at companies in Mumbai troubleshooting American consumers across the United States by telephone on 1-800 phone numbers. "John and Jane" profiles six individuals like "Glen" and "Sydney" who, through their work, identify with the rhythm of American culture and aspire to an American Dream. "John and Jane", which has been making the film festival circuilt in recent years -- screening at the Vancouver International Film Festival, 2006 Full Frame Festival, and others -- had been broadcast earlier this year on HBO.
Check out both the official site for "John and Jane" and at HBO: http://www.hbo.com/docs/programs/johnandjanetollfree/sy...
Image courtesy of John and Jane, a film by Ashim Ahluwalia, www.john-and-jane.com. Filmmaker Ashim Ahluwalia's documentary "John and Jane" (aka "John and Jane Toll Free" for distribution in the United States -- fittin... more -
Desk rage spoils workplace for many Americans
Get out of the way, road rage. Here comes desk rage.
Anger in the workplace -- employees and employers who are grumpy, insulting, short-tempered or worse -- is shockingly common and likely growing as Americans cope with woes of rising costs, job uncertainty or overwhelming debt, experts say.
"It runs gamut from just rudeness up to pretty extreme abusive behaviors," said Paul Spector, professor of industrial and organizational psychology at the University of South Florida. "The severe cases of fatal violence get a lot of press but in some ways this is more insidious because it affects millions of people."
Nearly half of U.S. workers in America report yelling and verbal abuse on the job, with roughly a quarter saying it has driven them to tears, research has shown.
Other research showed one-sixth of workers reported anger at work has led to property damage, while a tenth reported physical violence and fear their workplace might not be safe.
"It's a total disaster," said Anna Maravelas, author of "How to Reduce Workplace Conflict and Stress." "Rudeness, impatience, people being angry -- we used to do that kind of stuff at home but at work, we were professional. Now it's almost becoming trendy to do it at work.
"It was something we did behind closed doors," she said. "Now people are losing their sense of embarrassment over it." Get out of the way, road rage. Here comes desk rage. ... more -
Move Over Road Rage, Here Comes Desk Rage
By Ellen Wulfhorst
Thu Jul 10, 12:35 PM ET
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Get out of the way, road rage. Here comes desk rage.
Anger in the workplace -- employees and employers who are grumpy, insulting, short-tempered or worse -- is shockingly common and likely growing as Americans cope with woes of rising costs, job uncertainty or overwhelming debt, experts say.
"It runs the gamut from just rudeness up to pretty extreme abusive behaviors," said Paul Spector, professor of industrial and organizational psychology at the University of South Florida. "The severe cases of fatal violence get a lot of press but in some ways this is more insidious because it affects millions of people."
Nearly half of U.S. workers in America report yelling and verbal abuse on the job, with roughly a quarter saying it has driven them to tears, research has shown.
Other research showed one-sixth of workers reported anger at work has led to property damage, while a tenth reported physical violence and fear their workplace might not be safe.
"It's a total disaster," said Anna Maravelas, author of "How to Reduce Workplace Conflict and Stress." "Rudeness, impatience, people being angry -- we used to do that kind of stuff at home but at work, we were professional. Now it's almost becoming trendy to do it at work.
"It was something we did behind closed doors," she said. "Now people are losing their sense of embarrassment over it."
Contemporary pressures such as rising fuel costs fan the flames, said John Challenger, head of Chicago's Challenger, Gray & Christmas workplace consultants.
"People are coming to work after a long commute, sitting in traffic watching their discretionary income burn up. They're ready for a fight or just really upset," he said.
Added to that, he said, are financially strapped workers having to cut back on paying for personal pastimes that might serve as an antidote to work pressures.
LET OFF STEAM
"That means people come into work after a weekend and they haven't been able to let off any steam," he said.
Spector said his research has found 2 percent to 3 percent of people admit to pushing, slapping or hitting someone at work. With roughly 100 million people in the U.S. work force, he said, that's as many as 3 million people.
Maravelas said she conducted a seminar this week in rural Iowa, where she asked participants if they thought anger was increasing at their workplace.
Everyone raised their hands, she said, which is typically the response she gets. She cited research showing 88 percent of U.S. employees think incivility is rising at work.
"Many of us sense we're losing ground economically and socially. The safety net is unraveling. Hence, anxiety and unease are skyrocketing," she said.
People reassure themselves by blaming others and "find comfort in believing their suffering is caused by a callous, incompetent or selfish organization, leader, supplier, union or regulatory body," she said.
The worst offenders are overachievers, said Rachelle Canter, a workplace expert and social psychologist. "The usual profile is Type A, really, really smart, with impossibly high standards they set for themselves as well as for other people.
"They are so invested, I would say maybe over-invested, in success and in everyone being every bit as driven as they are that they just lose their sense of perspective, and they can lash out at other people," said Canter, author of "Make the Right Career Move."
But desk rage extends across industry and class lines, from top white-collar jobs to gritty blue-collar work, and companies pay dearly in terms of lost productivity, sagging morale and higher absenteeism, Spector said.
The worst cases end in violence, he said.
"Somebody didn't just come to work one day and shoot somebody," Spector said. "There's probably been a pattern of less extreme behaviors leading up to it."
(Editing by Michelle Nichols and Bill Trott)
By Ellen Wulfhorst Thu Jul 10, 12:35 PM ET NEW YORK (Reuters) - Get out of the way, road rage. Here comes desk rage. ... more -
Dead at 45 - Toyota Motor Company Japan works employee to death!
A Japanese labor bureau has ruled that one of Toyota's top car engineers died from working too many hours, the latest in a string of such findings in a nation where extraordinarily long hours for some employees has long been the norm.
The man who died was aged 45 and had been under severe pressure as the lead engineer in developing a hybrid version of Toyota's blockbuster Camry line, said Mikio Mizuno, the lawyer representing his wife. The man's identity is being withheld at the request of his family, who continue to live in Toyota City where the company is based.
In the two months up to his death, the man averaged more than 80 hours of overtime per month, according to Mizuno. A Japanese labor bureau has ruled that one of Toyota's top car engineers died from working too many hours, the latest in a string of s... more -
Gas prices give rise to four-day workweeks
"Escalating gas prices are prodding businesses and local governments to take a drastic step to curb costs: Many are cutting back to four-day workweeks, with employees generally working four 10-hour days instead of five eight-hour days.
It's a sign of how deeply gas prices are cutting into employees' pay and businesses' bottom lines. The last time four-day workweeks came into vogue was during the gas run-up in the 1970s."
In some states, for certain jobs, it will be mandatory. I guess sometimes public transportation just isn't enough (or isn't for everyone).
I'm actually kind of happy to see gas prices go up (I don't own a car) as it's making people reflect on their impact on the environment. Although, it's kind of sad that the only way to make most people environmentally responsible is to harm their pocketbook. But if that's what it takes!
Would you prefer working fewer longer days? I would...if I had that type of job. "Escalating gas prices are prodding businesses and local governments to take a drastic step to curb costs: Many are cutting back to fo... more -
Most States Workers Moving to 4-day Work Week
Utah this summer will become what experts say is the first state to institute a mandatory four-day work week for most state employees, joining local governments across the nation that are altering schedules to save money, energy and resources.
Gov. Jon Huntsman, a first-term Republican, says he's making the change to reduce the state's carbon footprint, increase energy efficiency, improve customer service and provide workers more flexibility.
Jacqueline Byers, director of research at the National Association of Counties, says the four-day work week is gaining in popularity among county governments. Marion County, Fla., has a mandatory four-day work week for employees; Oconee County, S.C., and Walworth County, Wis., have it for road work crews, while Will County, Ill., has it for the auditor's office. Oakland County, Mich., is seeking volunteers for a four-day work week, and Miami-Dade County, Fla., and Suffolk County, N.Y., are moving toward it, she says.
"They like it for a couple of reasons," says Byers. "They're not able to give raises, so this is like a bonus, to cut off one day's commute. Also, if they can close a whole department (for a day), they save money for the county."
For the whole story, click the link. Utah this summer will become what experts say is the first state to institute a mandatory four-day work week for most state employees,... more -
Life and Sex Work in Portland, OR
There's the anecdote about Portland having the most strip clubs of any city in the US. Along with these strip clubs there are a lot of women doing sex work in and around the city. How do they feel about it? How do they do it? Who are they? And where do they get the support they need. This short looks at sex work and the social services agencies that have gathered together to provide services and resources for a very present, and yet hidden and dismissed, group of women working in Portland. There's the anecdote about Portland having the most strip clubs of any city in the US. Along with these strip clubs there are a lot of... more
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Selfridges joins former employee 'blacklist' scheme
Harrods and Selfridges have joined a controversial database which "blacklists" former employees and suggests their unsuitability for future jobs. The National Dismissal Register collects the names and personal details of former staff whose behaviour upset their managers.
Members of the online register can then conduct checks to see if potential recruits have been blacklisted for their actions in previous jobs. Seven firms have signed up so far, including Reed Managed Services and Mothercare, and the scheme could potentially affect an estimated 3 million workers. Harrods and Selfridges have joined a controversial database which "blacklists" former employees and suggests their unsuitability for f... more -
One out of every four working Americans says workplace is a dictatorship
One out of every four working Americans (25%) describes their workplace as a dictatorship, while just 34% of bosses in the American workplace react well to valid criticism, according to a new Workplace Democracy Association/Zogby Interactive survey.
The survey also found that less than half of working Americans - 46% - said their workplace promotes creative or inventive ideas, while barely half - 51% - said their co-workers often feel motivated or are mostly motivated at work.
Asher Adelman, Founder and President of the Workplace Democracy Association, said that "As we prepare to commemorate our nation's independence and celebrate the freedoms that we often take for granted, it is unfortunate and ironic that so many Americans work at organizations that are managed like mini-dictatorships." Just 52% of respondents in the nationwide survey said their boss treats subordinates well, the survey revealed.
"Traditionally-managed companies, by inadvertently draining the motivation levels of their employees, are stifling productivity, innovation, and creativity. Companies cannot expect to remain competitive when such large numbers of employees do not feel like they are treated like responsible adults nor when they feel like their input has little or no impact on the company's decision-making process," said Adelman.
One out of every four working Americans (25%) describes their workplace as a dictatorship, while just 34% of bosses in the American wo... more -
Things you’d love to say aloud at work
1. I can see your point, but I still think you’re full of sh*t.
2. I don’t know what your problem is, but I’ll bet it’s hard to pronounce.
3. How about never? Is never good for you?
4. I see you’ve set aside this special time to humiliate yourself in public.
5. I’m really easy to get along with once you people learn to see it my way.
6. I’ll try being nicer if you’ll try being smarter.
7. I’m out of my mind, but feel free to leave a message.
8. I don’t work here, I’m a consultant.
9. It sounds like English, but I can’t understand a word you’re saying.
10. Ahhh…I see the screw-up fairy has visited us again.
11. I like you. You remind me of myself when I was young and stupid.
12. You are validating my inherent mistrust of strangers.
13. I have plenty of talent and vision; I just don’t give a damn.
14. I’m already visualizing the duct tape over your mouth.
15. I’m not being rude. You’re just insignificant.
16. Yes, I am an agent of Satan, but my duties are largely ceremonial.
17. And your crybaby whiny-assed opinion would be…?
18. Sarcasm is just one more service we offer.
19. If I throw a stick, will you leave?
20. Errors have been made. Others will be blamed.
21. Too many freaks, not enough circuses.
22. Nice perfume. Must you marinate in it?
23. Chaos, panic, and disorder — my work here is done.
24. I thought I wanted a career; turns out I just wanted a salary.
25. Who lit the fuse on your tampon?
1. I can see your point, but I still think you’re full of sh*t. ... more -
Multitasking could be detrimental to work and learning
An interesting article from The New Atlantis journal which summarises recent research indicating that multitasking may be detrimental to work and learning...
An interesting article from The New Atlantis journal which summarises recent research indicating that multitasking may be detrimental ... more
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