Do the French like to work, or do they dislike their companies? This year, only 64% of a group of French professionals polled said they liked their company. This figure was at 79% in 2005, according to this article in The Economist. The article goes on to say:

Many outsiders conclude that French workers are simply lazy. “Absolument Dé-bor-dée!” (“Absolutely Snowed Under”), a book which came out last year, described how state employees compete to do nothing at work. Another title in this bestselling genre on avoiding toil, “Bonjour Paresse” (“Hello Laziness”) by Corinne Maier, an economist, explained how she got away with doing nothing at EDF, another utility.

The art of doing the least amount of work possible while on the job.

However, studies show that French professionals have a bone of contention with management, not with the idea of work itself, which may be leading to the lack of motivation and productivity while on the job.

…The problem with French employees is less that they are work-shy, than that they are poorly managed. According to a report on national competitiveness by the World Economic Forum, the French rank and file has a much stronger work ethic than American, British or Dutch employees. They find great satisfaction in their work, but register profound discontent with the way their firms are run.

Furthermore, 40% of employees, according to a 2010 study by BVA, “actively dislike their firm’s top managers”. What explains this discontent?

Thomas Philippon, a French economist, says that too many French organizations depend on academic and governmental elites as their leaders versus following the commonplace meritocracy that exists in France’s grandes écoles, or institutes of higher learning. Furthermore, logic and reason reign supreme within the realm of French culture.

Considering all of this, wouldn’t it be logical for French companies to promote individuals based on performance rather than engage in cronyism? If meritocracy is fiercely protected in the academic world, why doesn’t it apply to the private industry?

Please share your experiences working for French companies and with French colleagues – we’d love to hear them!

Sean
RW3 CultureWizard

The following culture tips will come in handy when doing business with France.

+ The French are private people and have different rules of behavior for people within their social circle and those who are not. Although the French are generally polite, it is with their close friends and family that they express themselves freely and openly.

+ A well-rounded education indicates status and breeding. It is a good idea to become familiar with French history and culture to impress French colleagues.

+ People who are well read and can speak intelligently about the arts are considered of a higher class.

+ As a general business rule, French people are more serious in demeanor and do not smile without a reason. Although most French businesspeople understand that smiling is more commonplace in many other cultures, they may be unimpressed by expressions of humor or over-familiarity.

+ Foreign businesswomen will be treated with the same courtesy and respect that French men afford all women. Well-dressed women generally receive courtly attention from French men, including appreciative glances or a compliment about their clothes.

+ The handshake is a common form of greeting. Friends may greet each other by lightly kissing on the cheeks. The number of kisses–one to four–varies according to the region.

+ The French have a great appreciation for the art of conversation. Their communication style is direct, often interlaced with probing questions. Therefore, it is important to present a logical argument and be able to approach the situation from multiple angles.

+ Heated discussion and negotiation are part of French communication. The French enjoy confrontational discussion and see them as an opportunity to demonstrate their intelligence and knowledge of the subject matter.

Key French Business Values

- from RW3′s CultureWizard™ Country Profiles

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The New York Times takes the opportunity to examine French identity and culture amidst the Dominique Strauss-Kahn controversy by talking with French residents of New York and other France experts.

The episode has forced many native French people to tease out what part of them has evolved into an American and what part has never left France, which coined the word ‘chauvinism’ in the patriotic sense. (Nicolas Chauvin was a soldier fanatically loyal to Napoleon.)

The media has largely recognized the French and American opinions on Strauss-Kahn’s behavior and have drawn a distinction between the two approaches, which have made many French-Americans question their identity.

…French-Americans believe the case has ‘tarnished our image,’ said Marie-Monique Steckel, president of the French Institute Alliance Française, which promotes French culture and language. When she heard news of Mr. Strauss-Kahn’s arrest, she said, she found herself ‘extremely emotional,’ adding, ‘My Frenchness came to the fore with more force than I would have thought.’

And although some French-Americans may think Americans react too prudishly to the sex scandals of their leaders, Ms. Steckel said, ‘There is a difference between a womanizer and rape.’

From a cross-cultural perspective, this also brings to mind the importance of appreciating the difference in definition of sexual harassment between US and European workplaces. It also points out how important it is for businesspeople working globally to have an understanding of what constitutes appropriate workplace behavior.

The “perp walk” Strauss-Kahn took was another salient issue the French community raised because it’s illegal in France and considered an unnecessary form of humiliation. What is your view? The notion that you are innocent until proven guilty, concerned about individual rights, but we don’t think it’s bad to do the perp walk.

Various issues of French-American identity add to the conversation regarding the French penchant for conspiracy theories:

French people who have lived in New York for a long time, she said, have moved beyond seeing the world in such a conspiratorial fashion. ‘The French adore the idea of plots,’ [Steckel] said. ‘They see plots everywhere. French-Americans become more factual.’

To our French and French-American readers, do these comments resonate with your cultural values? What is your take on bi-cultural identity?

To the rest of our readers, how does the question of (dual) cultural identity inform your opinions on the way justice systems prosecute and/or defend highly visible officials such as Strauss-Kahn?

We look forward to your comments.

Sean

RW3 CultureWizard

In Paris, a veritable celebration of mistakes was hosted last week by a group of academicians from a number of France’s educational institutions. The Guardian writes on the concerns of many professionals in the education field:

…The French school system is leaving children bereft of creativity, flexibility of thought and – crucially – confidence in their own mental abilities…’A large part of the French school system is based on the idée reçue that errors are negative, when in fact it is by this very process of learning … that you make progress,’ said Maëlle Lenoir, of the Association Paris Montagne.

French history is full of great inventions and inventors, artists and architects, too many to mention here. How long has this style of teaching been in practice?

The article gives a few “great mistakes” to demonstrate the power of making errors, like Columbus’ search for India, which led him to the Americas. According to the article, many young French students fear answering questions incorrectly, and are afraid of taking risks. Many of our beliefs on these issues stem from culture, which is instilled in all of us from a young age, and especially at school. Now, educators in France are looking to change these ideas with the hopes of increasing students’ propensity to be innovative and creative. The event’s leaders “hope to demonstrate to young participants the potential wonder of making mistakes through a series of science-based workshops.” This festival strives to give young students the courage to think creatively, without worrying about making mistakes.

In the US, for example, asking questions, intense curiosity and failure are all seen as important learning experiences. Curiosity can lead to failure, but failure is one way of learning, and can also lead to breakthroughs in all subjects (e.g. via the trial and error method). In the professional realm, many managers expect failure before mastery, and employees can easily recover from a loss of face due to mistakes, so long as they learn from them. Conversely, in countries like China, where the learning process is heavily based on rote and process, mistakes can cause significant loss of face, and failure is often very difficult to recover from.

What is your experience as a schoolchild? Do you remember having exploratory activites in class, like “show and tell,” were you expected to learn through repetitive action, or was there a different method?

We’re interested in hearing from you.

Charlene

RW3 CultureWizard