Friday, October 22, 2010

Pardon My French


Ooh la la……I hope you aren't planning a trip to France anytime soon. The French are… how you say…PISSED OFF. Pardon my French…but there is nothing Les Miserables than a pissed off Frenchman wearing a beret and armed with a rock hard baguette.

So what has put their French briefs in a wad? Apparently the French government has proposed legislation that would raise the retirement age from 60 to age 62. Ay Caramba! (Whoops, wrong language.)

This proposal has resulted in widespread strikes and demonstrations among the young and the old. The young because there will be fewer jobs for them in the future…and the old because they feel entitled to a long retirement of le vin, le brie, et les femmes. It’s a quality of life thing.

Even high school students are protesting with sit-ins, stand-ins, and lotus positions. There is mayhem in the rues…backlash in the Notre Dame…and backwash in the cafes. Labor unions are ceasing transportation and communication. Demonstrations are being controlled with tear gas-ation.

You know the situation has gotten really serious when Lady GaGa had to postpone her scheduled concert. It’s hard for me to keep a straight “P p p p Poker Face”…but you can probably guess Lady GaGa was planning on wearing a little French maid outfit.


Anywhooooooo……….

The work time card of the French, compared to that of an American, is not punched nearly as hard. In France, they are required by law to take five weeks of vacation per year...although it is common for the French to take eight weeks. Their work week is 35 hours long and they are especially noted for taking 3 hour lunches. Momma Mia! (Whoops, did it again.)

Hey, where can we sign up for that gig? By comparison of work schedule standards, Americans have been taken to the French cleaners. Many Americans work at least 50 hours per week, maybe get 10 days to 2 weeks vacation… and a few sick days off (after calling into work...coughing from the beach.)

It’s hard to feel too sorry for the French. I say, “Get over it…get back to work and stop all the wine-ing.”

How you say.... "Say La Vi."