E very August, the same set of transatlantic memes about work and holiday circulate on social media. The European is depicted as out of the office with a strict attitude towards switching off and not responding to clients (“I’m away camping for the summer – please contact me as of 2 September”) while for the American there is no such luxury (“I’m in the hospital – I’m so so sorry for the 30-minute delay in getting back to you!”). There’s more than a kernel of truth to this stereotype.
Europeans often fret that they are “falling behind” the US economically, but in reality, per capita GDP in the US is 30% higher than in France largely because Americans work 25% more hours every year than French workers. Indeed, the term la rentrée doesn’t have a great translation into (American) English in part because it’s not just a word, it’s a cultural phenomenon: “the return to everything” in September – work, school, book releases, museum exhibitions, concerts and other cultural events, and of course, political brouhaha – when everyone comes back from at least a month’s holiday. But it’s not only about weeks off during the summer.
Since 2017, French labour law has included the “ right to disconnect ” – a measure the UK government is now also considering . The law, which applies to companies with more than 50 workers, obliges businesses to clearly define normal working hours and set out policies around work communications negotiated with em.