Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

U.S. CEO to France: ‘How Stupid Do You Think We Are?’

blogs.wsj.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

31–40 of 125 posts

Re: U.S. CEO to France: ‘How Stupid Do You Think We Are?’

#31

Post by Kurtz79 »

_b8r0 wrote: post #23

I have an idea that the differences in work ethic across Europe may be partly to do with climate and partly to do with language. In France, the verb 'work' is travailler . Traditionally this meant literally to toil, a chore, an obligation. In Germany, the word werken means to build, create, do. The German word more aligned with travailler is arbeit. This lack of correlation in the word work I believe may explain the…

Sorry, but there are so many stereotypes here that I don't know where to begin.

I'll just say that right now I'm in Spain, it's frigging cold and I have been working for nearly 12 hours straight.

Re: U.S. CEO to France: ‘How Stupid Do You Think We Are?’

#32

Post by shin_lao »

_b8r0 wrote: post #23

I have an idea that the differences in work ethic across Europe may be partly to do with climate and partly to do with language. In France, the verb 'work' is travailler . Traditionally this meant literally to toil, a chore, an obligation. In Germany, the word werken means to build, create, do. The German word more aligned with travailler is arbeit. This lack of correlation in the word work I believe may explain the…

Yes, you're most likely wrong.

France is a hard working country. It's not where it is today just because there is an Eiffel tower and great bread.

I realize that bashing France is always enjoyable but although its going downhill it's still one of the richest and most powerful countries in the world.

People have more holidays but work for longer hours. One example of one factory doesn't say much about the country as a whole.

For the record, in Germany, 32 hours a week is frequent in many factories (VW).

The question one could ask, is how come the factory reached a point where people work only three hours per day?

It's however true that the minimum wages are far above the minimum wages in India or China. I'm not sure dropping wages to Chinese levels is the solution.

I'm not saying there aren't any problem.

There is a recurrent problem with unions in France and the lack of communication between unions and employers.

Work laws are rigid and the amount of tax companies suffer clearly costs a great deal of opportunities to the country.

There is also a recent, negative shift, toward work and effort in general, especially in the youngest generation. I'm however afraid this might not be specific to France.

Re: U.S. CEO to France: ‘How Stupid Do You Think We Are?’

#33

Post by panzagl »

kordless wrote: post #4

Talk about a financial blowout. Sounds like his intent is to waste Titan's time writing negative remarks and being disrespectful. I agree they shouldn't do business with France, but to be so rude is, well...rude.

Maybe he thinks you have to be rude to deal with the French? There is a stereotype there, right or wrong.

Re: U.S. CEO to France: ‘How Stupid Do You Think We Are?’

#34

Post by nostromo »

_b8r0 wrote: post #23

I have an idea that the differences in work ethic across Europe may be partly to do with climate and partly to do with language. In France, the verb 'work' is travailler . Traditionally this meant literally to toil, a chore, an obligation. In Germany, the word werken means to build, create, do. The German word more aligned with travailler is arbeit. This lack of correlation in the word work I believe may explain the…

Another theory often floated is the cultural history of Protestants vs Catholics.

http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/newsandevents/pressreleases/south_...

Re: U.S. CEO to France: ‘How Stupid Do You Think We Are?’

#35

Post by Fargren »

eqreqeq wrote: post #25
_b8r0 wrote: post #23

I have an idea that the differences in work ethic across Europe may be partly to do with climate and partly to do with language. In France, the verb 'work' is travailler . Traditionally this meant literally to toil, a chore, an obligation. In Germany, the word werken means to build, create, do. The German word more aligned with travailler is arbeit. This lack of correlation in the word work I believe may explain the…

>>In France, the verb 'work' is travailler. Traditionally this meant literally to toil, a chore, an obligation. "travailler" comes from Latin, in spanish the same word is "trabajar", notice the resemblance. It literally means "to work" in english. Just saying this because I don't really buy it that "travailler" in French means "to toil".

Travail (like trabajo) means labor, effort. It's different from "empoi" ("empleo" in español), which has a bigger relation with being useful, and is also less commonly used.

Re: U.S. CEO to France: ‘How Stupid Do You Think We Are?’

#36

Post by LockeWatts »

galactus wrote: post #26
_b8r0 wrote: post #23

I have an idea that the differences in work ethic across Europe may be partly to do with climate and partly to do with language. In France, the verb 'work' is travailler . Traditionally this meant literally to toil, a chore, an obligation. In Germany, the word werken means to build, create, do. The German word more aligned with travailler is arbeit. This lack of correlation in the word work I believe may explain the…

France is one of most productive countries in the world, when measured as GDP per hour-worked: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_%28PPP...

That could be due to the diminishing returns of working longer hours after a certain point. They work fewer hours, so are more productive per hour, but sacrifice overall production to do so.

Re: U.S. CEO to France: ‘How Stupid Do You Think We Are?’

#37

Post by windexh8er »

rdl wrote: post #3

I don't get why you'd ever send a letter like this (except anonymously, or if you were a politician). There is no upside beyond just "Sorry, we're not interested -- our new investments are focused on Asia, where demand for tires is growing 200%/yr. Sincerely, CEO." There is downside -- you might provoke some tariffs in EU/France, or disinvestment from the pension fund, or whatever.

It's been shown time and time again that conversation / discussion with honest dissent proves to foster more thought and recourse than "being nice" and not directly engaging the problem. While the letter bordered on over-the-top I'd rather get the honest feedback than nothing at all (i.e. thanks but no thanks).

Re: U.S. CEO to France: ‘How Stupid Do You Think We Are?’

#39

Post by hollerith »

galactus wrote: post #26
_b8r0 wrote: post #23

I have an idea that the differences in work ethic across Europe may be partly to do with climate and partly to do with language. In France, the verb 'work' is travailler . Traditionally this meant literally to toil, a chore, an obligation. In Germany, the word werken means to build, create, do. The German word more aligned with travailler is arbeit. This lack of correlation in the word work I believe may explain the…

France is one of most productive countries in the world, when measured as GDP per hour-worked: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_%28PPP...

Right, but that is partly or wholly because French unemployment is higher than it is in the US with the result that the less productive workers do not have jobs and consequently are not included in the statistic. If we use a different statistic, namely, GDP per capita, France is significantly lower than the US.

Re: U.S. CEO to France: ‘How Stupid Do You Think We Are?’

#40

Post by jacquesm »

Wow, what a total jerk. Regardless of the differences between US, Chinese, Indian and French work ethics the least you could do as a CEO is to learn how to write a polite refusal.

When you don't have to insult someone it is probably better not to. Because those pesky French just might publish your less than elegant letters, your stockholders might read those letters and could very well think: "This guy runs the company I invest in? I'd better move my money out before his loud mouth causes him to lose business.".

Stockholders are fickle, and some stockholders actually care about more than just the numbers (of course, that is a minority).

Also, if you communicate you negative interest when a foreign representative has thought to offer you a chance at some deal you may want to think of the future. Effectively you are saying 'if you are so kind as to think of me I will repay you with trash'. That will likely not be repeated again and likely the effect will be much further spread than just this one country and just this one official.

That bulk deal for Tires for all the vehicles of the French armed forces (Michelin?), the police force or their connections with the ministry of labour and their counterparts in other countries. Piss off politicians in enough places and it will backfire.

Maybe there is some hidden upside but I don't see any.

Finally, you are also representing your country when you do business abroad. Every other American CEO lost a little bit of respect today by re-inforcing certain stereo types that we could all do without.

If you are ever in a position like this, please say 'no' with some grace.

Post reply on HN