french people are lazy!

• French people must be the most lazy persons in the world i guess... I just heard that french people only have to work 35 hours a week, have so many holidays (in which they often still get paid) and furthermore (and that is something i really cannot believe), they still protest for less working hours!!!!
  
  how is this possible? and how is their economy working like this?

  15 Jun 2007, 03:30 Walter

Replies

• This cannot be left unanswered

  Who told you that. They do work for 35hours per week, at least for blue collars, and all state employees. Most do hqve 5 weeks of paid vacations, France became the 1st country in the world to have paid vacations. Well Toyota built one of its biggest factory in Europe in France and it is considered as one the top three European car factory.
  Maybee French ppl work faster, and they don't need as many hours as the others

  Anonymous 18 Jun 2007, 10:03 - Report

• I love it!

  I was a workaholic person before in another country but now I am a full time housewife and living in france with french husband and I realized that this is not "laziness"..it's a matter of spending time to work and time to be with family(very important) which the government took into consideration... I guess and I love it!

  littlefredo 26 Jun 2007, 11:38 - Report

• I don't find the Rrench are lazy

  I agree with littlefredo it's a matter of choice and priorities. Let’s face we are all going to die so why not enjoy life well we can.

  Jeff Steiner 02 Jul 2007, 12:12 - Report

• americans are stupid

  stupid americans,allways jealous.f*** them!!!!

  charlotte 09 Jul 2007, 06:07 - Report

• To Charlotte

  As a matter of fact young lady, I'm not american, I am Irish. And I read your comment about french ppl being rude. with this one you make no honour to your country. Feel lucky that you cannot be banned from the forum.

  Walter 10 Jul 2007, 06:44 - Report

• Stereotype again !

  its just a kid, it does not know what it speaks, french are not rude (not more american). of course, we say “shit” gold “f***” when us shoot our foot on the table of the living room, but i think that everyone made that !
  
  and we are not lazy, just more productive and we have priority, like : family, amusement, pleasure, passion, love, which is things much more important than the work (which, in all the cases, is made in 35 hours per week)
  
  i am french, and i am terribly confused for my english, i am not very good

  Damien 28 Aug 2007, 11:48 - Report

• lazy

  as in many cultures you have those who are lazy, who are always complaining are never happy, give them 10e and they want 12e...perhaps if these people worked more earned more, they would be able to enjoy life with their families, friends etc; sure there are lots of problems here but then a lot of people are just "aigri" got the bad deal, look mate get up change and take your life in your own hands, rather than wait for someone else to give it to you on a silver tray. Open your eyes and just see how lucky we are to be living in this wonderful country

  Kiran Paris 10 Sep 2007, 03:06 - Report

• are you kidding?

  "who told you that?" what is that supposed to mean? and "maybe the french people work faster than others.." are you nuts???!!! the french ARE thee laziest people on the planet! just go to a french resto and you'll see how bad and long the service is. the french want EVERYTHING for free and don't want to work at all! I live here and I speak from experience. They are lazy, selfish and always seem to be unhappy.

  stuck in Paris 05 Nov 2007, 02:56 - Report

• love this guy's reasoning :-)

  he writes...
  And we are not lazy, just more productive and we have priority, like : family, amusement, pleasure, passion, love, which is things much more important than the work (which, in all the cases, is made in 35 hours per week)
  
  more productive? seriously? when and where?
  
  I have NEVER had worse (slow) service in hotels, restaurants, boutiques, etc... than I have had in France; on a consistant basis. Worse than in South America, really.
  
  FIRST: No one wants to work, so therefore getting work is nearly impossible. If I were a French employer I would never want to give a CDI contract either. My god, who wants to be stuck with an employee who works their best for 2 months then once they feel they can't get fired they shut down and are impossible to get rid of. Keep shooting yourselves in the foot and you'll NEVER advance!
  
  Another example, those who do not pay their rent can live basically rent-free for years. They don't pay, the landlord can't get them out between Oct-Apr, the landlord loses money, then can't pay his mortgage, then loses his property, I mean give me a break! All because someone wants to freeload.
  
  A regular French person can't buy a home unless he has 20% in angency fees, taxes, notary, etc... and he has to make 3 times his monthly payment. Don't you people want to get ahead? Have something of your own? Leave something for your children?
  
  The French shoot themselves in the foot EVERY single time! Why? Because they will work for less money, less hours, as long as the government leads them to believe "they are being taken care of" by giving them permanent contracts and 6 weeks of holidays.
  
  Wake up people, find out what you are missing out on. Yes life is not about working like a slave, VERY TRUE! But you don't have to work like a slave to have more than the average French person does. Besides how are you going to take all those holidays with bearly any money.... aahhhhh yes, just skip out on the rent, right?

  frog 05 Nov 2007, 03:16 - Report

• lazier italians

  One thing: Maybe the french are lazier than peoples from other countries, but they never could compete with the italiens. Oh my gosh theier lazyness really annoys me, they are really lazy!

  Rodi 03 Mar 2008, 10:43 - Report

• laziness

  what is the problem with people being lazy? they know how to enjoy life instead of working long hours. certain cultures, specially north america, they need to do something always to be happy while other cultures really enjoy taking time to be with people,always open to spontaneity and new friends. "dont just stand there, do something" is the banner that surrounds this sort of money and time oriented cultures...
  free yourselves and claim your rights, work and money is not everything in life.

  cecile 18 Mar 2008, 12:26 - Report

• chill

  I realy don't understand people who want to work work work...there is more to life than just work and make money..I am italian, NOT lazy, and have to work 45 hours a week...i like my job, but I am not going to go on like this forever...I do not believe that working less means you are lazy...it means that you enjoy your life...and boy, I believe we ALL need it!!!!!!...so what if we have to wait a little longer at the restaurant?? When did we become so busy hat we can't even relax on a night out??? CHILL....

  silvia 12 Apr 2008, 06:54 - Report

• completely lazy

  yeah I live in France and they are sooooo lazy! even when they talk they defend laziness, strikes all the time, even their law system is made for that (I studied french law) It shocks me a little bit more everyday

  42 03 May 2008, 11:14 - Report

• Hu?

  Why lazyness? French workers fought for rights in work and won. Is our country less performant? Why so many foreign companies try to set plants here?
  I'm confused to see what you think about us. Yes I work 35 hours a week as a secretary and work more harder when needed, not being paid for your information. Do I have to work 50 hours a week and die working so that the rest of the world consider me as a "real worker"? A few years ago we worked 39 hours a week and our gouvernment voted so that the legal time is 35. It was established to reduce the unemployment. Good for us, workers, and those who had no jobs. Then it allowed more spare time and create an economic "boom" in the leisure Industry...
  We have legally 5 weeks holidays we have to take within the year, not free! It is taken on our salary ( x per cent of our pay ).Some of us, because of a lot of work, can't afford to take these 5 weeks. And renounce to the holidays the law gives them...and they paid for!
  Please do not succumb to clichés! French are not lazy and rude. Even if, like everywhere else in the world, some are...
  May I conclude for a word to Charlotte. You should be ashamed of such sentences to the cutter, worthy of a cockroach IQ....

  Bulle 19 May 2008, 03:38 - Report

• lol

  dont be jealous men we just fight for our rights

  Justice 13 Jun 2008, 09:15 - Report

• It's human to point fingers at others

  Everybody wants to point fingers at others. I think it takes the focus off our own lives, and perhaps shortfalls. There are lazy people all over the world - not divided by the country in which they live. It's human nature to go to the path of least resistance. Americans should know this - the children of the Baby Boomer generation have been spoiled into entitlement and we are seeing new forms of laziness because of it.
  
  I have seen people of all virtues all over the world. Why do we waste our time stereotyping cultures? Maybe we are too lazy to discuss a worthy topic...

  World resident 23 Jun 2008, 12:14 - Report

• étude en Argentine

  communiquer avec nous par e-mail:
  [email removed]

  jose 23 Jun 2008, 03:31 - Report

• hi

  hi:
  i was in paris last month,i only can say they are the moust respectfool people.maybe sometimes they can be cold,but they respect the others humans.i love france,i love paris.i wish i can learn more french to move.bye

  kurt 24 Jun 2008, 07:58 - Report

• Hi everyone !

  Hello,
  
  Please, don't make judgement when you don't know what you are saying !
  
  Of course it depends on the person, but me, for example, ( I'm fench) I'm starting working at 8 am and finish rarely before 9-10 pm. Morover, I still have a lot of work at home.
  
  So, of course there is some lazy person, but there is still too hard-working one ! How do you think France has this economy ? It's because there's a lot of persons who are hardly working .
  
  Bye bye =)

  Oriane 31 Jul 2008, 11:19 - Report

• "and how is their economy working like this?" Walter

  Our economy is working quite well with this
  opportunity ( 35 hours a week ).
  more time at home means more time with the family and/or more time to spend with friends
  in different activities inside/outside depending of the season and requests.
  i believe that our way of living is appreciated regarding the quantity of foreign visitors who wants to settle down in the country side
  come and visit us : you'll never want to go back !!
  sincerly yours
  Chris

  chris / landlouis@yahoo.fr 13 Aug 2008, 03:39 - Report

• Cultural stereotypes

  French people are not lazy !!! I've been living in Australia for the past Two years and by what I have seen I can easily say that FRENCH people are more HARD-WORKING than others.
  All average australians start working at 9am and probably finish around 4pm which is something very different from the french way of living. Even students in high school I'm pretty sure spend much more hours working (7am to 5pm) than austrlians do at their office...C'mon !!!
  I believe that our way of living is not that enjoyable and stop saying that french people are always on holidays...
  Cheers

  Océ 22 Aug 2008, 08:53 - Report

• hay los pobres franceses!!!

  yes to me the french people are to lazy !!! I m from mexique and I live here. You need french people go to america latina and the conditions for work and after we speak about. the french people have alot of things and alaso they have problems with the hours work. it s crazy!!!! really!!

  angelina 23 Aug 2008, 04:58 - Report

• To Angelina

  Well,if you think that french are lazy, what about mexican ? What about the stereotype of the lazy mexican who leans against his cactus with his huge sombrero ?!
  Fui a mexico, y puedo decirte que los mexicanos si estan perezosos y bastante lentos...Fuiste a francia o no? tienes que ver como les franceses trabajan cuando estan en sus propios medioambiente !
  But, don't take it too serioulsy btw... I'm just defending my country...YEAH FRENCH PEOPLE ARE ALSO VERY PROUD !!!!!

  Océ 23 Aug 2008, 05:24 - Report

• angelina

  Puede ser que los mexicanos seamos flojos, pero no nos quejamos. Los franceses se quejan de todo!!! no se dan cuenta de lo que tienen...si, mi pais es un pais de tercer mundo, pero los mexicanos sonreimos, somos amables, simpaticos y con un grande corazon. Por supuesto que conozco francia, basta un ano viajando por tu pais para darme cuenta de lo que son. trabajan duro si, pero son las consecuencias de un primer mundo, y aun se quejan!!! echale un vistazo al mundo a lo que hay ahi fuera, los franceses no ven mas alla de su nariz, un ejemplo; los espanoles, los estan superando en economia y mira que espana de lo que viene saliendo. Ustedes se dicen por ser un pais ejemplo, si, mira como desperdician el agua!!!! no se dan cuenta de lo que tienen, son tan cuadrados!!! y aun asi siempre se quejan, en su pais y a donde vayan, es algo que los cataloga. Por lo menos los estadounidenses que trabajan duro tambien, no se quejan como los franceses no senor!!!

  angelina 25 Aug 2008, 11:25 - Report

• estereotipo????

  No cabe duda que este frances que habla del estereotipo del mexicano, nada aprendio en mexico!!!! basta de vernos con sombrero senores, por lo menos aprendan a ser mas "humildes" en su manera de ver la vida.
  No generalizo, pero francia que se cataloga por ser un pais humanitario y mientras el sarkozi se esfuerza porque asi sea ante los ojos del mundo, los franceses estan muy lejos de esto, y de entenderlo.... no se puede hablar mal de otros pueblos, cuando en el suyo hay tanta hipocresia,tanto "materialismo", si es verdad que los franceses trabajan demasiado, pero es para pagar sus tarjetas bancarias, porque ya viven en el consumismo despiadado!!ellos dicen dime cuanto tienes y te dire quien eres....

  ricardo, mexico 25 Aug 2008, 01:28 - Report

• flojos los mexicanos???

  en referencia a este frances que nada aprendio de lo que vivio en mexico, si es cierto ese dicho que los franceses no ven mas alla de su ombligo.... dices que somos flojos? no me imagino a ninguna mujer francesa, levantandose a las 5 am, cargar su puesto para ir a vender a la calle sus tamalitos o atolito o taquitos o lo que sea para subsistir, transportarse en camion o metro si bien le va, regresar a casa, lavar la ropa (a mano) lavar la loza (a mano) no, no puedes decir que somos flojos, mira nadamas las comodidades en que vive un frances, tienen todo, la mujer con carro, el marido con carro, lavaloza, lavadora y secadora!!! mira que si hay que tener poca vision cuando utilizan la secadora de gas, habiendo un sol de 30 grados, es una locura!!! y el agua? como la desperdician? lo tienen todo y aun asi se quejan??? mientras que los mexicanos sabemos vivir con lo que tenemos, no nos quejamos, por lo menos sonreimos en la calle, cosa que ustedes no saben hacer. Sabes, no lo tenemos todo, pero somos felices, libres. los franceses claro que trabajan mas, pero para poder pagar todos esos lujos innecesarios pero tan necesarios en la vida francesa, entonces se vuelven presos, no son libres y por esto se quejan. y no hablo de patriotismo, sino de realismo....para concluir, los franceses son grotescos y desfachatados/

  juan 25 Aug 2008, 05:25 - Report

• Amazingly, not even tears are running on my cheeks.

  You can't blame france or french people for having a washing machine or a car..really childish. You can't blame us because mexico as you say is "mi pais es un pais de tercer mundo"...Don't tell me that i don't care about poeple who are not as wealthy as I am because first, you don't know me, you probably have no idea that I'm bulding a orphanage in CAMBODIA, you have probably no idea that I have family who lives in CUBA and that I lived there as well ( NOW TELL ME ABOUT POVERTY), so PLEASE don't come and tell me that "los franceses no ven mas alla de su nariz"...The only thing that i see here is that i can't say anything without having people defending harshly their values and ofending other...freedom of speech, this is a thing that FRANCE surely has.
  Je ne voudrais vraiment pas que ce debat depasse les limites.
  Bien a vous, et franchement arretez de tout prendre au premier degres...

  Océane 27 Aug 2008, 11:58 - Report

• el ser humano ....

  Soy mexicana, no me ofende todo lo que se dice de si somos o no somos, de lo que son los franceses, las europeos o latinos o marroquies, etc... porque mejor no compartimos opiniones constructivas acerca de nuestras culturas? el mundo ya esta tan enfermo. Y si tomamos el tiempo de leer y opinar en este foro, pues que sea para por lo menos descargar todooooo lo bueno que tenemos como seres humanos. Basta!!! de agresion, cada cultura es como es y yo defiendo a todos los seres humanos, sean franceses, mexicanos, europeos o cualquier otra nacionalidad, somos seres humanos, les recomiendo leer ensayo sobre la ceguera de jose saramago, es un buen ejemplo de que este mundo realmente podria ser un caos, y podemos salvarlo. Yo espero leer un buen mensaje que me aporte algo de cada cultura. Puedo compartir muchisimo de la mia también.

  angelica patricia 09 Oct 2008, 02:36 - Report

• I live in France

  I confirm it French people are so lazy. It really annoys me how they work. They take too much time to do sth, and I understand one thing: they are like this because their govermente supports them and with that nothing to do.

  Alex 10 Oct 2008, 02:28 - Report

• Poor idiot

  alex, shut the f*** up. your mother's too lazy, moron !

  Fierté 13 Oct 2008, 12:04 - Report

• Fierté

  I don't know who you are, but one thing is clear you don't know how to express yourself.
  
  POOR SOCIAL RESENTFUL.

  Alex 13 Oct 2008, 02:07 - Report

• hey!

  i am french and i m not lazy. merde alors!

  holadudiduda 14 Oct 2008, 04:45 - Report

• je ne pas compri

  je suis latinameriquen-alleman, et je adore la france!

  w 14 Oct 2008, 08:17 - Report

• paz !!!!!!!!

  I think you don´t understand mi letter, please, PEACE, PAZ ..... give more information about your country but constructive information, all the countrys have beautifull things, let me know what about yours, french, american people o wherever....
  
  I´m mexican and I have alot of themes for you, if you want.
  paz.......

  angelica patricia 15 Oct 2008, 03:14 - Report

• aaaah!!!!!!!!

  why can´t people live without insulting other people and look not every french person has the same work so some work 3 hours a day and others worrk 11 hours a day got it¿?¿?¿¿?¿!!!!!!!!!!¿¿¿¿¿¿¿??????????

  anonimus 12 Nov 2008, 09:08 - Report

• That's not very sweet from you!

  Instead of blaming the fact that French people have paid vacations and some other advantages (and I don't think there are that many!), you should try to get the same advantages! French people are not lazy! And I'm one of them!

  Fred 18 Nov 2008, 10:04 - Report

• stuck in paris

  qu'est ce qui t'arrives toi sale merde t'es jaloux mon pote retourne dans ton pays au lieu de rester a Paris la plus belle ville du monde et la France le plus beau pays avec les plus belles femmes, la nourriture et la culture , je suis pas "lazy" moi car j'ai traduit ce que tu as écris ! en feras-tu autant ?

  Thomas 10 Dec 2008, 11:22 - Report

• translate

  bon je suis sympa je l'ai fait pour toi !
  
  how is what arrive to you salts shit are jealous for you my pal turns over in your country instead of remaining has Paris the most beautiful city of the world and France the most beautiful country with more the beautiful women, food and the culture, I am not “lazy” me because I translated what you have write! in will you make as much?
  sorry for my english !
  and french profits the live, we are not stressed like you ! and egoïst as you !

  Thomas 10 Dec 2008, 11:29 - Report

• no

  f*** you!

  s 11 Dec 2008, 06:03 - Report

• for no

  mother f***er, voila comment sont les américains ! ils ont trop la rage de ne pas être français et sont malpolis aveec nous je veux pas faire de généralités mais une grande partie sont comme ce pauvre type .. allez a+ ma couille

  for no 14 Dec 2008, 05:08 - Report

• xgf

  grv ! f*** i'm agree

  xcxc 22 Dec 2008, 04:33 - Report

• HE

  THE WORD IS EFFICIENCY YOU DONT NEED GIVE YOUR ALL LIFE IF YOU ARE EFFICIENT AT WORK

  pAT 15 Jan 2009, 04:42 - Report

• i love france

  i live in germany,but i love france.i was in paris 3 months,and the people was very polite,happy,friendly.every were you go,you can find nasty people,and trust me,other places are awful in europe,that i know i live in germany for the moment,and here its shit.............

  latino 16 Jan 2009, 09:15 - Report

• urgente

  o0la me llamo0 MaRiiY Carmen
  y necesito correo0s de amiigo0s (as)
  k me ayuden a mi tarea
  es para intercambiiar ideas
  so0bre co0mo0 viven en otros paises
  y que cosas hacen y todo eso
  vale mi correo es [email removed]

  MaRiiY 18 Jan 2009, 01:33 - Report

• What's so bad about being lazy?

  Come on French people... you should be proud of having the intelligence to find your way around hard work... that's nothing to be ashamed of!
  On the other hand, I agree with mexican laziness... since I'm one of them... lol

  Alexandre 03 Feb 2009, 03:49 - Report

• Dur d'eter bebe

  hahahah bebe

  Thomas 06 Feb 2009, 06:01 - Report

• not all french are lazy

  I am not French but I go to paris often and I have friends and relatives in france. Yes, some french are lazy but not all of them!!!
  
  there are plenty of hard-working French people there too! Voila! here is my 2 cents worth.
  
  ps - I am currently living in Australia and I find a lot of Aussies are very lazy -it seems all they want to do is go to the pub or the beach -very lazy!

  Kate 15 Feb 2009, 03:42 - Report

• nl

  French people lazy.. I don't know, maybe.
  But, did you heard about the country which is the most PRODUCTIVE and EFFICIENT?
  this is certainly the answers. If they can do in 35 hours per week the same job that an other do in 45, why being ashamed?
  
  But in fact, French people are not working 35 hours a week, except for a minority. The average is 42. And 5 weeks of holiday per years. Don't think it is enough (but maybe am I lazy? )

  jis 15 Feb 2009, 08:45 - Report

• I live and work in france, I am not french

  35 hours a week yes, but in fact you are at work for 9 and a half hours per day, due to the excessively long lunch break.
  You are also confused who is demanding less hours, it is the government workers which are highly protected, they can not ever lose their jobs (unless they perform murder or the likes), hence the protesting and going on strikes, they can strike for as long as they like and they can not lose their job. The government gives in to what ever demands they have, because the country needs to function.
  I am not convinced they are more productive workers, however to answer your question about the economy in France, have you researched how much the french workforce is taxed? Heck they even have a tax for owning a television.
  Also I would like to add, that although the average week is 35hrs (this is in fact the law)the salaries are dismall.
  Hope this information helps!

  anonymous 25 Mar 2009, 05:57 - Report

• Only french government worker are lazy

  I'm french, so I can tell you that government workers are fucking lazy.
  But, french workman, even if they work less than american, german, english or even mexican, are more productive than them.
  
  And for doctors or architecs for example, they are not limited to 35 hours a week, but they can work 40 or 50 hours a week, working week ends. And it's the same for every person working by their own.

  Only french government worker are lazy 14 Apr 2009, 01:29 - Report