France makes it illegal for tech firms to require employees attend work emails after 6pm

[Himanshu Arora]

If there weren't many reasons to admire the French lifestyle already, here is another one: they don't have to worry about responding official calls, texts, and emails after office hours. The French government has now made it illegal to work after 6pm, according to a Guardian report.

Last week, employer groups and worker unions from the country's tech and consultancy sectors signed a new, legally binding labour agreement that will require staff to switch off their phones after 6pm.

Out of the country's total workforce of about 40 million, the agreement currently affects only 1 million workers, including those working in the French arms of Google, Facebook, Deloitte and PwC. But those who favor the law say that the model can be extended to other sectors as well.

Apart from making it illegal for employers to force their workers to work after 6pm, the new law also says that employees should resist the temptation of looking at work-related material once the clock ticks off.

A study from the Center for Creative Leadership suggests that the workers with smartphones communicated with their office 72 hours per week on average.

Permalink to story.

https://www.techspot.com/news/56344-france-makes-it-illegal-for-tech-firms-to-require-employees-attend-work-emails-after-6pm.html

 

[Jad Chaar]

The French are all about stress free lives... this is a great example of that

 

[swcowger]

The French are lazy. This is why they are always getting there A$$ kicked.

 

[davislane1]

The French are all about stress free lives... this is a great example of that

It's all stress free until you disadvantage yourself so much that companies start looking elsewhere to do business.

 

[davislane1]

The French are lazy. This is why they are always getting there A$$ kicked.

BS. No country has ever demonstrated throughout its history such relentless and indefatigable efforts to.... surrender.

 

[Jad Chaar]

The French are lazy. This is why they are always getting there A$$ kicked.

They emphasize family more than occupation/work. I wouldnt call them lazy, but instead they have a differing ideology.

 

[Guest]

Smart. Nothing damages human growth, creativity, spirit, health and intelligence like workaholism. Perhaps workaholics think they're getting ahead but they're really just racing to an early death.

"Ambition wanders blind" - Lao Tzu

 

[Guest]

The French are well ahead of the curve. Consider this for example - France has banned government agencies/media from blindly using Twatter and Facefart pages to centralise all their customer contact.

Why? IT'S ANTI-COMPETITIVE.

Smart France! Make us all look like CLOWNS for mindlessly using Facefart and Twatter for everything, all TV shows/stations and business contact.

Shake the Tree and close your twatter/facefark accounts.

 

[DDG4005]

I have to respect France for this move. They understand that work and personal lives are two separate entities and should remain so. I also have to laugh at those on this board who state they're soft; no, they're smart, apparently smarter than many of us in this brain-dead nation.

 

[Guest]

Sorry guys, not quite the case according to a local french report. http://www.thelocal.fr/20140411/france-emails-ban-6pm-35-hour-week

 

[davislane1]

I have to respect France for this move. They understand that work and personal lives are two separate entities and should remain so. I also have to laugh at those on this board who state they're soft; no, they're smart, apparently smarter than many of us in this brain-dead nation.

There is always a balance to be struck between work and relaxation. Laws enforcing such a balance, however, erode their ability to stay competitive in a global environment. It all helps to unstressed your life right up until the point your position gets shipped to someone with fewer restrictions and demands.

Nevertheless, this is a cultural thing. Being raised under the "work harder than the next guy" philosophy, I can't identify with the French proclivity for work restrictions.

 

[RenGood08]

This is a smart idea.I like it to an extent. What if there was a major issue at the building or it was a critical business matter that needs to be addressed asap...you will get some angry customers!

 

[DDG4005]

There is always a balance to be struck between work and relaxation. Laws enforcing such a balance, however, erode their ability to stay competitive in a global environment. It all helps to unstressed your life right up until the point your position gets shipped to someone with fewer restrictions and demands.

Nevertheless, this is a cultural thing. Being raised under the "work harder than the next guy" philosophy, I can't identify with the French proclivity for work restrictions.

Sure some of us in the US work harder but for what? Salaries have been stagnant for over 30 years and have not kept pace with the rate of inflation. We're basically working harder and longer for less money and we're not enjoying ourselves either.

As for staying competitive in a global economy, it sounds well and good but I think it's just marketing used to convince people that they have to work harder just for the hell of it.

 

[davislane1]

Sure some of us in the US work harder but for what? Salaries have been stagnant for over 30 years and have not kept pace with the rate of inflation. We're basically working harder and longer for less money and we're not enjoying ourselves either.

Working harder has to do with more than just raw hours. Its also about skill acquisition (technical, social, etc.), working efficiently and creating superior value in what you're selling (yourself).

As for staying competitive in a global economy, it sounds well and good but I think it's just marketing used to convince people that they have to work harder just for the hell of it.

The stagnant wages and increasing hours/pay ratio you mentioned are far from being savvy marketing tricks. Off-shoring of jobs and the downward pressure placed on wages for entry-/low-level work by increasing numbers of immigrants are both consequences of a global environment. You will never make "hard work" pay off if someone else will do the exact same work for a fraction of the price you're demanding, especially if they'll work just as hard.

 

[SNGX1275]

On some level I think this is good, but I mostly don't agree, at least not in the US (I don't know for France). The thing is, everyone that goes into that field in the US knows what they are getting into. A friend of mine works for the state as IT and he works some pretty terrible hours, but I believe there are some days where he is not 'on call'. This seems to be an industry wide problem, so I don't really understand how there isn't employee pushback on this. Perhaps it does require some legislation to address this problem in the US, but I don't know enough to say whether or not other options have been exhausted.

You don't HAVE to go into the IT sector, not every job will have the possibility of you being called in to fix something. At least with IT, there are times when you can fix the problem without leaving home. I work as an environmental coordinator for a plant that has a lot of nasty chemicals. I am 'on call' 24/7, the probability of something happening that requires me to go in is low, but the severity of a situation that would get me called puts me in a very hazardous to my health situation.

Point is, you don't (or extremely rarely) go into job positions where you could be called in to work beyond your normal hours without you knowing that you may be expected to do that. There are other careers out there.

 

[captaincranky]

The French have always had a leg up, plus a great flair for labor saving devices and strategies! After all, didn't they invent the"Maginot Line", so they'd never have to fight with the Germans again?

I say here, here , to another job well done!

 

[Railman]

On some level I think this is good, but I mostly don't agree, at least not in the US (I don't know for France). The thing is, everyone that goes into that field in the US knows what they are getting into. A friend of mine works for the state as IT and he works some pretty terrible hours, but I believe there are some days where he is not 'on call'. This seems to be an industry wide problem, so I don't really understand how there isn't employee pushback on this. Perhaps it does require some legislation to address this problem in the US, but I don't know enough to say whether or not other options have been exhausted.

You don't HAVE to go into the IT sector, not every job will have the possibility of you being called in to fix something. At least with IT, there are times when you can fix the problem without leaving home. I work as an environmental coordinator for a plant that has a lot of nasty chemicals. I am 'on call' 24/7, the probability of something happening that requires me to go in is low, but the severity of a situation that would get me called puts me in a very hazardous to my health situation.

Point is, you don't (or extremely rarely) go into job positions where you could be called in to work beyond your normal hours without you knowing that you may be expected to do that. There are other careers out there.

The Finance Industry has a bad reputation in the City of London. Especially some of the American firms where interns often work crazy hours. For example up to 11 at night and then going back to work early in the morning. In order to function staff end up taking stimulants which leads to a very unhealthy life style. Such extreme practices should be outlawed.

 

[captaincranky]

The Finance Industry has a bad reputation in the City of London. Especially some of the American firms where interns often work crazy hours. For example up to 11 at night and then going back to work early in the morning. In order to function staff end up taking stimulants which leads to a very unhealthy life style. Such extreme practices should be outlawed.

The legal profession is another in which you often hear horror stories of 80 to 100 hour work weeks for beginning associates.

OTOH, "A day without stimulants, is like a day without sunshine". (Or at least it seemed that way during my feckless youth)...

 

[SirGCal]

I logged 120 hour weeks more then once as a tech specialist. But then I also get almost work-free weeks to go along with that. I work hard when the work demands it but I also make a good penny for it and get paid either way. I think the people that don't make enough for what they do either 1) don't have the skills 2) don't market themselves properly 3) don't have the work ethic to do what is necessary when it has to be done. Or 4) think they are worth more then they really are... Unfortunately I see a lot in this area myself, especially in my field.

Might seem shitty but I'm also married with two preemie boys and have time for everything. Some weeks are worse then others when the poo hits the fan. Working from home helps with everything but not everyone can do that. But I also knew going in that I might be needed for extended periods without notice. That's part of the job and part of the compensation. That's the deal. To be fair, it happens usually once a quarter or less. But it always seems to happen at the most inconvenient times...

 

[SirGCal]

On another note; won't that make it really easy for hackers or other damages to just start their work at 6? Did I read something wrong? They'd have all night to get whatever they can before the morning shift shut em down... Or did they leave exceptions for IT security personnel, etc? I need to dig deeper into this, this is just an initial thought from the TS post.

EDIT: http://www.thelocal.fr/20140411/france-emails-ban-6pm-35-hour-week
Seems to be not the case... On that note, a rather incomplete post on TS's part I'd say. At least misleading.

 

[davislane1]

On another note; won't that make it really easy for hackers or other damages to just start their work at 6? Did I read something wrong? They'd have all night to get whatever they can before the morning shift shut em down... Or did they leave exceptions for IT security personnel, etc? I need to dig deeper into this, this is just an initial thought from the TS post.

EDIT: http://www.thelocal.fr/20140411/france-emails-ban-6pm-35-hour-week
Seems to be not the case... On that note, a rather incomplete post on TS's part I'd say. At least misleading.

Eh, it was good for some French bashing while it lasted. So....How about them Russians????

 

[captaincranky]

Eh, it was good for some French bashing while it lasted. So....How about them Russians????

I was going to suggest North Korea, If I may be so bold.

Sure some of us in the US work harder but for what? Salaries have been stagnant for over 30 years and have not kept pace with the rate of inflation. We're basically working harder and longer for less money and we're not enjoying ourselves either.

As for staying competitive in a global economy, it sounds well and good but I think it's just marketing used to convince people that they have to work harder just for the hell of it.

Yes, but in the context of computer science, you can work 24/7 and not actually produce anything for the furtherance of the economy.

The same with almost any service industry.

The reason that China is now a world leader, is their citizens are willing to work long hours for low pay, which is quite frankly, more than they were getting before. Wait for it.....And they have a growing manufacturing base. Raw materials and salable products are what grows an economy.

Not a pack of wolves selling mobile phone contracts to welfare recipients, with newly minted "play money" from the US government.

Then too, a new video game or social network website add nothing to an economy, they simply siphon more money out of farmers and miner's pockets

 

[Landvaettir]

The French are lazy. This is why they are always getting there A$$ kicked.

BS. No country has ever demonstrated throughout its history such relentless and indefatigable efforts to.... surrender.

Yeah, they surrender! Totally! They surrendered just like in the bloodbath of the French Revolution. They totally took the easy way out and surrendered their rights. This is all american stereotyping.

 

[captaincranky]

Yeah, they surrender! Totally! They surrendered just like in the bloodbath of the French Revolution. They totally took the easy way out and surrendered their rights. This is all american stereotyping.

OK Mon Ami, let's see what we have learned from your post.

I take it to mean the French succeed as a mob, but fail as an army...

Or possibly, the French are at their very best when they're killing each other.

You have to admit, there was only one king, and a s***load of Frenchmen with guillotines.

To the upside, I think the French Revolution was where we got our wonderful colloquial saying, "heads will roll"!(y)

 

[davislane1]

Yeah, they surrender! Totally! They surrendered just like in the bloodbath of the French Revolution. They totally took the easy way out and surrendered their rights. This is all american stereotyping.

No, it's cultural ridicule, a staple of western civ. I also suggest you do more than a cursory study of the French Revolution before using it as some type of cultural merit badge. They spilled blood during that little episode, to be sure. But they also failed to achieve the majority of their political objectives and paved the way for a lunatic named Napoleon.