Entitlement culture undermines ambition - by Bill O'Reilly
We have seen the possible future of America—and it is France! This week thousands of young French citizens took to the streets to demand job security and more guaranteed entitlements, as if they don't already have enough. If you get a job in France, you immediately get more than seven weeks vacation each year, and five of those weeks are guaranteed between May and October. Also, short of executing your coworkers or something, the company that hires you cannot fire you. They are stuck with you for as long as you show up. The result of this insane labor policy is that many French companies simply will not hire young people who don't have solid references and an experienced track record. It's just too risky. So the unemployment rate for workers from 18 to 26 is an astounding 24%. Overall, French unemployment stands at 10% as opposed to less than 5% in the USA.
So, in order to encourage job expansion, the French government proposed a law that would give employers a little room. A company would be allowed to lay off anyone under the age of 26 for cause within two years of their first day on the job. After that, Jacques and Marie are almost guaranteed a lifetime job, provided the company stays solvent. Sounds reasonable, right? But for the young French, this is an abomination! This is an insult! They believe they are entitled to a good job no matter how they perform. So they took to the streets.The French government is now a giant colossus that employs more than 25% of the entire French population! Paris pays for health care, provides lucrative pensions, subsidizes a lot of housing, and has set up a 35-hour work week. In fact, it is illegal in France for any company employee to work more than 44 hours a week.
No comments:
Post a Comment