Is a 35 hour work week really standard in france? What does this say about the french? Should I move there?

Question

Is a 35 hour work week really standard in france? What does this say about the french? Should I move there?

Answer 1

Contrary to what has been said the 35 hour work week was NOT made a requirement of law because of some sense that people should have more leisure time.

It was done as an act of desperation by the government to try to force employers to create more jobs and relive the pressure of a sky high unemployment rate.

The idea is, of course, that if people can work no more than 35 hours a week that employers will have to hire more people to make up the short fall in production.

As such the idea has largely failed and France remains with an unemployment rate that is just below 10% and therefore twice that of the United States.

One thing it says about France is that the spirit of the entrepreneur is now been exterminated by decades of ham handed government oppression of the people who create jobs and make a nation prosperous.

It is instructive that a poll taken among French young people showed that the majority aspired to be government bureaucrats rather than productive, useful members of society.

The truth is that Frenchmen with a creative business spark now move to England and Ireland to start their businesses.

Answer 2

The 35 work week is for blue collar labor.  I have several french friends who work corporate jobs and work just as much if not more hours than I do.  You do get healthcare and 6 weeks vacation, but the taxes are insane.  Also, if you live in France, as an American citizen, you have to pay taxes to BOTH countries unless your French company will pay the American taxes (that is a standard practice by the way).  That is a very important fact few people will tell you about.

Answer 3

They get 6 weeks of holiday too.

Answer 4

According to my French textbook it's a 35 hour work week, with the option of over time up to 39 hours.  

As to moving there you're going to have to weigh your options.  Would it really be cost effective?  Would you have to buy new appliances with European plugs?

What it says about the French is that they could work 5 hours a day for 7 days or 7 hours a day for 5 days.  They have an extra hour to spend with their families and friends.

Answer 5

Yes you should move there.Not only do they work less hours they get paid twice as much.The best part that's even better is that they pay no income tax.man you can't lose.You should start packing right now.

Answer 6

Yes it is true.  The French believe quality of life is more important than killing yourself for a little extra money.  I would not move there, too much social unrest.

Answer 7

I have dual French and US citizenship, and while I disagree with certain policies that have been implemented by the French government over the years, the idea you seem to be attempting to dismiss is not without merit. Here in the US I see legions of overworked, burned-out people everywhere who can't even remember the last time they had a real vacation. That to me is not healthy.

Answer 8

I thought it was actually 30, and they were crying murder over raising it.