Nov 16 2008
The Road to Retirement part 1
2008-11-16
We all have dreams and ambitions which help us to go about our daily tasks. Our motivation when stuck in a dead end job is to get the hell out of there as quick as possible and find something better. Don’t ever say that to the French!
It would appear that from an early age, the average French person is already planning what he/she will do once they’ve reached the “Golden Age” of retirement. And the easiest way of getting there whilst doing as little as possible.
I remember one of the first jobs I had when I moved over here. The job was through a local work agency and the position I held consisted of fitting electrical motors to huge stainless steel vats for the dairy industry. Not very interesting I know but at the time it was necessary to take whatever was available and it helped considerably in learning the French language.
One of the people I worked with was an old guy aged 58 at the time. During one of the coffee breaks we got talking about travelling, home and the usual stuff. I don’t know why but the subject of retirement came up and I realised that this bloke had been doing the same job for the last 40 odd years. After the initial shock, surprise and disbelief that somebody would be happy doing the same mundane task for this length of time, I asked him why. He didn’t quite seem to understand the question which for me seemed a perfectly simple one and began talking with somebody else.
At first I couldn’t quite understand his reason for avoiding the question but I eventually understood. The French live to retire. And when I say they live to retire, I don’t mean they take out pension plans to ensure financial independence, I mean they live to retire. They are fully prepared to remain in the same boring job all of their working life and count the days to retirement. I’m not talking about white collar workers who do sometimes change companies to ensure a promotion, I’m talking about the people on the shop floor.
Can you imagine getting up everyday for 40 years, going to the same job by the same road and putting a bolt in a hole then adding the nut and tightening it with the same spanner every single day until you retire? I for one cannot but it would seem the majority of French people can. Now I’m not saying that anyone who does this type of job is planning to remain there all there lives, as there are people who need to work and will do anything to provide for their families but I really get the impression that the French lack ambition.
I like the French a lot, despite the fact they still haven’t forgiven us English for the barbecue we set up in Rouen back in 1431, but there are some things about them I just find hard to believe.
In part 2 I shall explore and try to explain why.
One Response to “The Road to Retirement part 1”
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This looks like its going to be a fun blog! I think the French attitude you describe reflects a country where its still possible to HAVE the same job for 40 years. I think you would have found exactly the same attitude in England 40 years ago - its just the recent uncertainity of employment that has turned it around.
For me it would be like waiting for death - and Ive seen too many people die before or just after retirement. You can’t wait for life -it might not be there when you get to 60 or whatever!