Ok so I realise I have most probably lost any readers who may have stumbled upon this blog since I have been writing like a post a month but I do intend to get back on the blogging saddle once I have internet at home.
In the meantime and whilst I have internet connection via wifi a bit of an explanation about what I have been doing. Well that can be answered in one word... working! Like I said I've joined a company and I'm at D-2 days until the end of my trial period. The concept of trial period may seem weird to those in the UK and the US given that when I said I could be fired for any reason and at any time, that doesn't seem out of the ordinary for most people. In France workers have a lot of security and after Tuesday when my trial period will be over I will have more job security. Basically they won't be able to fire me unless the Company has financial difficulties (which in the current climate is not impossible) or unless I do something really really wrong.
In the meantime and whilst I have internet connection via wifi a bit of an explanation about what I have been doing. Well that can be answered in one word... working! Like I said I've joined a company and I'm at D-2 days until the end of my trial period. The concept of trial period may seem weird to those in the UK and the US given that when I said I could be fired for any reason and at any time, that doesn't seem out of the ordinary for most people. In France workers have a lot of security and after Tuesday when my trial period will be over I will have more job security. Basically they won't be able to fire me unless the Company has financial difficulties (which in the current climate is not impossible) or unless I do something really really wrong.
You see the longer you work for a company the more job security you have. This, in my opinion, explains the nemesis of many office workers - the French secretary. She is not someone in a low cut top, tight skirt and pouty lips, she's usually sour faced and on the large side having spent many an hour on her behind doing very little. From my experience French secretaries are damn unhelpful. Why? because they aren't paid to be nice to you, or to help you, or to do their job to the very best of their abilities, in their opinion they are already doing more than enough by actually being at work on time and for the legally required amount of time (35 hours a week) Don't get me wrong I'm not saying the French in general don't make good workers, because they do I have daily proof of it, it's just that more that once in my life I have come accross those who have been in the job so long, in the company so long, that they know exactly the minimum they have to do and have no intention of doing any more than that, including being cheerful!
I've temped as an assistante/secretary myself in France and in the UK so know what I'm talking about. Secretaries have the power in France, just look at those who work in the famous French administration! I'm sure in every company you'll find someone who matches this description, someone you may have been warned about. You may have been told for example "Nathalie will help you but make sure you ask her nicely" and by 'nicely' they mean "Hello Nathalie, I hope I'm not troubling you, I know you've got a lot of work on your hands but I was wondering if you wouldn't mind telling me where I can find an envelope? Thank you very much, that's very kind". And then you retreat out of the room repeating your thank yous until you reach the door and can then turn your back to her. As the French say, its "nine times 'si vous plait' and twelve times 'merci'" for the smallest of things. Not ALL secretaries are like that, some are amazingly kind and helpful, but I have already met quite a few formidable characters who you have to grovel to to get anything from them and who will black list you possibly for the rest of your time in the company if you don't say good morning to them everyday! They work 9-5 on the dot, take 1 full hour or more for lunch and a cigarette break every hour in between. They take their fully 25 days of paid holidays and one RTT day (called 'rest days' in France) per month. They can make even the most senior manager afraid of them and are known for having a "caractère". I've always been amazed that this kind of person exists when really their boss should take them aside and tell them to sort out their attitude, but in France the boss knows quite well that whilst Nathalie (for example) might be a bit of a dragon there is no budging her because if he were to fire her she could complain and probably receive a huge amount of compensation.
So Her Majesty the Secretary can act as diva-ish as she likes safe in the knowledge that no-one will dare cross her. That said, play by the rules and there's no problem. She can be your best ally ...... depending on her mood!
