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  #1  
Vecchio 05-07-2005, 20.39.45
Gregory Morrow
 
Messaggi: n/a
Predefinito Bonjour Laziness...


[I like her attitude!]

By Yasmine Mohseni

Newsweek


"June 29 - You can succeed in business without really trying. Or so says
Corinne Maier, author of "Bonjour Paresse" ("Bonjour Laziness.") Part
satire, part manifesto for bored and disgruntled corporate workers, the book
is packed with subversive techniques for looking productive without actually
doing anything. Maier, who is an economic consultant at Electricité de
France (EDF) and a practicing psychoanalyst, caused a sensation in her
native France by encouraging office slackers just as politicians were
proposing an increase in the 35-hour French workweek.

According to Maier, you can get away with what she calls "active
disengagement" by mastering your company's jargon, shuffling papers and
cultivating a personal network among your colleagues. Among her tips for
aspiring shirkers: "Seek out the most useless positions. The more useless,
the more difficult it is to assess your contribution to the firm's assets."
And: "You will not be judged on the way you do your work, but on your
ability to conform." Maier's call for employees to "take advantage of the
system," did not go over well with her employer. EDF began disciplinary
action against her, but retreated when the rebellious author got support
from her union.

Published in France last summer, "Bonjour Laziness" has climbed the
bestseller lists in Spain, Germany and France (where it sold 250,000 copies)
and has been translated into Japanese, Portuguese and Norwegian. With the
English translation in stores this month, it remains to be seen if
workaholic Americans will take to a book that promotes laziness. Maier spoke
with NEWSWEEK's Yasmine Mohseni. Excerpts:


NEWSWEEK: Who did you write this book for?

Corinne Maier: My book is for people who don't like [their jobs]. If people
like what they do, it's OK. But a lot of people do it just for the money and
they are treated badly, they're treated like a number. [Managers and bosses]
don't seem to understand that if you're not interested in your job, you
can't be productive. If you give people work they're interested in, they can
excel and work better.


Do you think Americans work too much?

Yes. But things are different in the United States. Americans think they can
create themselves; we don't believe this in France. That said, [from] what
I've read, Americans are increasingly bored [with] their jobs.



Will your technique of active disengagement work in the United States or are
Americans too fixated on work?

The [popularity of] books by Scott Adams [creator of the workplace comic
strip "Dilbert"] prove that the absurdity of big [corporate] structures is
the same everywhere in the world. All the more, I have read that 50 percent
of the Americans are not satisfied with their jobs [according to a 2003
study by The Conference Board, a non-profit business research group]. I am
sure these people will love my book and my advice.


France has many holidays. Do you think this promotes laziness?

No, I think laziness is a consequence of working in a structure where you
have the feeling that what you do is pointless, and where you are treated as
a number or an object.


You have written nine books, you work as a part-time economic consultant,
and you are a practicing psychoanalyst. How many hours a week do you work?

I don't know. I work at EDF two to three days a week. I sit in meetings and
it's all very boring. The rest of the time I see patients or I write essays
and books on [a variety of] subjects from psychoanalysis to the arts. [Aside
from EDF], it's fun, it's not really work, so I don't count the hours.


Why do you still work at EDF if you dislike it so much?

I stay only because it makes my boss very angry.


Why did EDF abandon their disciplinary action against you?

I think it's because they're afraid of the media attention. My bosses still
try to get me to obey the rules but I'm fairly certain I'm going to get
fired soon. They think I'm dangerous.


What kind of reactions have you gotten from readers?

Reactions range from people saying they loved [the book], that it made them
laugh, or they tell me about their own work experiences. Others say that I'm
disrespectful towards those who work by writing such things. When I travel
and meet readers in other countries, they have similar reactions as the
French. I thought it would be different [in other countries] but maybe it's
[the same] because, while the context is different, the issues remain the
same.


You have young children, what will you do if they go to work for a big
company?

I'll tell them I wish they wouldn't. It's not easy as a child to know what
you want to do as an adult, I just hope they'll do what they love. And I
hope they won't obey everyone and do what they're told.


Are you political?

Not really. But I do think the state can be a threat to freedom the same way
big companies can be. In fact, in France, big companies and government
mirror each other: everything is very centralized and authoritarian.


So, what's the solution?

I don't know. I write about the problems, but solutions I leave to someone
else. It's too difficult for me to figure that out."

© 2005 Newsweek, Inc.
© 2005 MSNBC.com

URL: [url]http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8401285/site/newsweek/page/2/[/url]


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  #2  
Vecchio 05-07-2005, 20.50.51
James Silverton
 
Messaggi: n/a
Predefinito Re: Bonjour Laziness...

Gregory wrote on Tue, 05 Jul 2005 17:39:45 GMT:

GM> You have written nine books, you work as a part-time
GM> economic consultant, and you are a practicing
GM> psychoanalyst. How many hours a week do you work?

GM> I don't know. I work at EDF two to three days a week. I sit
GM> in meetings and it's all very boring. The rest of the time
GM> I see patients or I write essays and books on [a variety
GM> of] subjects from psychoanalysis to the arts. [Aside from
GM> EDF], it's fun, it's not really work, so I don't count the
GM> hours.

GM> Why do you still work at EDF if you dislike it so much?

GM> I stay only because it makes my boss very angry.

GM> Why did EDF abandon their disciplinary action against you?

GM> I think it's because they're afraid of the media attention.
GM> My bosses still try to get me to obey the rules but I'm
GM> fairly certain I'm going to get fired soon. They think I'm
GM> dangerous.
GM> © 2005 Newsweek, Inc.
GM> © 2005 MSNBC.com

I wonder for how many hours a week she gets paid? I'll bet it's
supposed to be a full time job:-)

James Silverton.

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  #3  
Vecchio 05-07-2005, 20.50.51
James Silverton
 
Messaggi: n/a
Predefinito Re: Bonjour Laziness...

Gregory wrote on Tue, 05 Jul 2005 17:39:45 GMT:

GM> You have written nine books, you work as a part-time
GM> economic consultant, and you are a practicing
GM> psychoanalyst. How many hours a week do you work?

GM> I don't know. I work at EDF two to three days a week. I sit
GM> in meetings and it's all very boring. The rest of the time
GM> I see patients or I write essays and books on [a variety
GM> of] subjects from psychoanalysis to the arts. [Aside from
GM> EDF], it's fun, it's not really work, so I don't count the
GM> hours.

GM> Why do you still work at EDF if you dislike it so much?

GM> I stay only because it makes my boss very angry.

GM> Why did EDF abandon their disciplinary action against you?

GM> I think it's because they're afraid of the media attention.
GM> My bosses still try to get me to obey the rules but I'm
GM> fairly certain I'm going to get fired soon. They think I'm
GM> dangerous.
GM> © 2005 Newsweek, Inc.
GM> © 2005 MSNBC.com

I wonder for how many hours a week she gets paid? I'll bet it's
supposed to be a full time job:-)

James Silverton.

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  #4  
Vecchio 05-07-2005, 20.50.51
James Silverton
 
Messaggi: n/a
Predefinito Re: Bonjour Laziness...

Gregory wrote on Tue, 05 Jul 2005 17:39:45 GMT:

GM> You have written nine books, you work as a part-time
GM> economic consultant, and you are a practicing
GM> psychoanalyst. How many hours a week do you work?

GM> I don't know. I work at EDF two to three days a week. I sit
GM> in meetings and it's all very boring. The rest of the time
GM> I see patients or I write essays and books on [a variety
GM> of] subjects from psychoanalysis to the arts. [Aside from
GM> EDF], it's fun, it's not really work, so I don't count the
GM> hours.

GM> Why do you still work at EDF if you dislike it so much?

GM> I stay only because it makes my boss very angry.

GM> Why did EDF abandon their disciplinary action against you?

GM> I think it's because they're afraid of the media attention.
GM> My bosses still try to get me to obey the rules but I'm
GM> fairly certain I'm going to get fired soon. They think I'm
GM> dangerous.
GM> © 2005 Newsweek, Inc.
GM> © 2005 MSNBC.com

I wonder for how many hours a week she gets paid? I'll bet it's
supposed to be a full time job:-)

James Silverton.

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  #5  
Vecchio 05-07-2005, 20.50.51
James Silverton
 
Messaggi: n/a
Predefinito Re: Bonjour Laziness...

Gregory wrote on Tue, 05 Jul 2005 17:39:45 GMT:

GM> You have written nine books, you work as a part-time
GM> economic consultant, and you are a practicing
GM> psychoanalyst. How many hours a week do you work?

GM> I don't know. I work at EDF two to three days a week. I sit
GM> in meetings and it's all very boring. The rest of the time
GM> I see patients or I write essays and books on [a variety
GM> of] subjects from psychoanalysis to the arts. [Aside from
GM> EDF], it's fun, it's not really work, so I don't count the
GM> hours.

GM> Why do you still work at EDF if you dislike it so much?

GM> I stay only because it makes my boss very angry.

GM> Why did EDF abandon their disciplinary action against you?

GM> I think it's because they're afraid of the media attention.
GM> My bosses still try to get me to obey the rules but I'm
GM> fairly certain I'm going to get fired soon. They think I'm
GM> dangerous.
GM> © 2005 Newsweek, Inc.
GM> © 2005 MSNBC.com

I wonder for how many hours a week she gets paid? I'll bet it's
supposed to be a full time job:-)

James Silverton.

Rispondi citando Condividi su facebook
  #6  
Vecchio 05-07-2005, 20.50.51
James Silverton
 
Messaggi: n/a
Predefinito Re: Bonjour Laziness...

Gregory wrote on Tue, 05 Jul 2005 17:39:45 GMT:

GM> You have written nine books, you work as a part-time
GM> economic consultant, and you are a practicing
GM> psychoanalyst. How many hours a week do you work?

GM> I don't know. I work at EDF two to three days a week. I sit
GM> in meetings and it's all very boring. The rest of the time
GM> I see patients or I write essays and books on [a variety
GM> of] subjects from psychoanalysis to the arts. [Aside from
GM> EDF], it's fun, it's not really work, so I don't count the
GM> hours.

GM> Why do you still work at EDF if you dislike it so much?

GM> I stay only because it makes my boss very angry.

GM> Why did EDF abandon their disciplinary action against you?

GM> I think it's because they're afraid of the media attention.
GM> My bosses still try to get me to obey the rules but I'm
GM> fairly certain I'm going to get fired soon. They think I'm
GM> dangerous.
GM> © 2005 Newsweek, Inc.
GM> © 2005 MSNBC.com

I wonder for how many hours a week she gets paid? I'll bet it's
supposed to be a full time job:-)

James Silverton.

Rispondi citando Condividi su facebook
  #7  
Vecchio 05-07-2005, 20.50.51
James Silverton
 
Messaggi: n/a
Predefinito Re: Bonjour Laziness...

Gregory wrote on Tue, 05 Jul 2005 17:39:45 GMT:

GM> You have written nine books, you work as a part-time
GM> economic consultant, and you are a practicing
GM> psychoanalyst. How many hours a week do you work?

GM> I don't know. I work at EDF two to three days a week. I sit
GM> in meetings and it's all very boring. The rest of the time
GM> I see patients or I write essays and books on [a variety
GM> of] subjects from psychoanalysis to the arts. [Aside from
GM> EDF], it's fun, it's not really work, so I don't count the
GM> hours.

GM> Why do you still work at EDF if you dislike it so much?

GM> I stay only because it makes my boss very angry.

GM> Why did EDF abandon their disciplinary action against you?

GM> I think it's because they're afraid of the media attention.
GM> My bosses still try to get me to obey the rules but I'm
GM> fairly certain I'm going to get fired soon. They think I'm
GM> dangerous.
GM> © 2005 Newsweek, Inc.
GM> © 2005 MSNBC.com

I wonder for how many hours a week she gets paid? I'll bet it's
supposed to be a full time job:-)

James Silverton.

Rispondi citando Condividi su facebook
  #8  
Vecchio 05-07-2005, 20.50.51
James Silverton
 
Messaggi: n/a
Predefinito Re: Bonjour Laziness...

Gregory wrote on Tue, 05 Jul 2005 17:39:45 GMT:

GM> You have written nine books, you work as a part-time
GM> economic consultant, and you are a practicing
GM> psychoanalyst. How many hours a week do you work?

GM> I don't know. I work at EDF two to three days a week. I sit
GM> in meetings and it's all very boring. The rest of the time
GM> I see patients or I write essays and books on [a variety
GM> of] subjects from psychoanalysis to the arts. [Aside from
GM> EDF], it's fun, it's not really work, so I don't count the
GM> hours.

GM> Why do you still work at EDF if you dislike it so much?

GM> I stay only because it makes my boss very angry.

GM> Why did EDF abandon their disciplinary action against you?

GM> I think it's because they're afraid of the media attention.
GM> My bosses still try to get me to obey the rules but I'm
GM> fairly certain I'm going to get fired soon. They think I'm
GM> dangerous.
GM> © 2005 Newsweek, Inc.
GM> © 2005 MSNBC.com

I wonder for how many hours a week she gets paid? I'll bet it's
supposed to be a full time job:-)

James Silverton.

Rispondi citando Condividi su facebook
  #9  
Vecchio 05-07-2005, 20.50.51
James Silverton
 
Messaggi: n/a
Predefinito Re: Bonjour Laziness...

Gregory wrote on Tue, 05 Jul 2005 17:39:45 GMT:

GM> You have written nine books, you work as a part-time
GM> economic consultant, and you are a practicing
GM> psychoanalyst. How many hours a week do you work?

GM> I don't know. I work at EDF two to three days a week. I sit
GM> in meetings and it's all very boring. The rest of the time
GM> I see patients or I write essays and books on [a variety
GM> of] subjects from psychoanalysis to the arts. [Aside from
GM> EDF], it's fun, it's not really work, so I don't count the
GM> hours.

GM> Why do you still work at EDF if you dislike it so much?

GM> I stay only because it makes my boss very angry.

GM> Why did EDF abandon their disciplinary action against you?

GM> I think it's because they're afraid of the media attention.
GM> My bosses still try to get me to obey the rules but I'm
GM> fairly certain I'm going to get fired soon. They think I'm
GM> dangerous.
GM> © 2005 Newsweek, Inc.
GM> © 2005 MSNBC.com

I wonder for how many hours a week she gets paid? I'll bet it's
supposed to be a full time job:-)

James Silverton.

Rispondi citando Condividi su facebook
  #10  
Vecchio 05-07-2005, 20.50.51
James Silverton
 
Messaggi: n/a
Predefinito Re: Bonjour Laziness...

Gregory wrote on Tue, 05 Jul 2005 17:39:45 GMT:

GM> You have written nine books, you work as a part-time
GM> economic consultant, and you are a practicing
GM> psychoanalyst. How many hours a week do you work?

GM> I don't know. I work at EDF two to three days a week. I sit
GM> in meetings and it's all very boring. The rest of the time
GM> I see patients or I write essays and books on [a variety
GM> of] subjects from psychoanalysis to the arts. [Aside from
GM> EDF], it's fun, it's not really work, so I don't count the
GM> hours.

GM> Why do you still work at EDF if you dislike it so much?

GM> I stay only because it makes my boss very angry.

GM> Why did EDF abandon their disciplinary action against you?

GM> I think it's because they're afraid of the media attention.
GM> My bosses still try to get me to obey the rules but I'm
GM> fairly certain I'm going to get fired soon. They think I'm
GM> dangerous.
GM> © 2005 Newsweek, Inc.
GM> © 2005 MSNBC.com

I wonder for how many hours a week she gets paid? I'll bet it's
supposed to be a full time job:-)

James Silverton.

Rispondi citando Condividi su facebook
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