"Why do we work harder than Germans?" (Sarah Ibarruri)

[Tess Anderson]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/100284773

Well then, why don't *we* move back over there?

Sarah Ibarruri (16,477 posts) Profile Journal Send DU Mail Ignore


 Why do we work harder than Germans?
Last edited Thu Dec 29, 2011, 11:52 AM USA/ET - Edit history (1)

I notice everything around me, and, having lived abroad, I noticed a huge difference in the work rules between Europe and the U.S.

For example:
Cashiers at stores and supermarkets in Europe are allowed to sit as they work;
Workers have a month (or longer) of vacation, and many, many holidays;
Cafeterias inside corporate buildings offer wine, and workers have wine during lunch (and return to lunch feeling quite good lol);

This, without even mentioning that they have unions, get paid more, and don't have to depend on jobs to have health care, which is socialized.

I think there's a treadmill attitude toward work here, the worker seen as the hamster, which does not exist in Europe.

I recall hearing someone tell how at her customer service job here in the U.S. (answering phones), the phones were very unbusy that day, and she had stood up to stretch and talk to the person in the next booth (who was also not busy). Suddenly, the manager approached her and said, "You can't just 'stand around' like that. You have to DO something. If you're not busy, sign off and go get a broom or something, sweep, we're not paying you to talk to your friends!"

There's a completely enslaving attitude about work in the U.S., the worker seen as the lazy bum, stealing money. And yet, recently I've been hearing how the American workplace is actually LESS productive than workplaces abroad.

-------------------------
Why Germans Have Longer Vacation Times and More Productivity

It seems many Americans are born hard-wired with the belief that productivity requires time. There are no shortcuts for a good, Puritan work ethic. It's the American Way, after all. We love stories of companies who started with nothing and worked like dogs to become massive successes. The Sam Waltons, the Bill Gates—these are true American heroes.

Self-sacrifice has almost always gone hand-in-hand with entrepreneurship and small businesses. We're capitalists, and he who works the most makes the most money at the end of the day. Or so it would seem.

Yet Europeans have always seemed to have taken a different route when it comes to the work/life balance. Germans on average work around 1,436 hours per year, versus the 1,804 hours Americans work. With those numbers it would be easy to conclude that Americans do more and would be more productive in the workforce. But we don't. Studies show that Germans get roughly the same amount of stuff done in fewer hours each week, and with more vacation time.

More at the link:
http://www.openforum.com/idea-hub/topics/lifestyle/article/why-germans-have-longer-vacation-times-and-more-productivity-glen-stansberry12   

When I give food to the poor, they call me a saint. When I ask why they are poor, they call me a Communist. (Dom Helder Pessoa Camara)
 

Pretentious crazy bitch

[jukin]

That made me laugh coffee out. 

I have a crisp twenty for any Dummy that works, much less hard, much, much less harder than a typical German.

Somebody is missing a very successful career in comedy writing.  Work harder than a German, ROTFLMFAO.

[FiddyBeowulf]

I recall hearing someone tell how at her customer service job here in the U.S. (answering phones), the phones were very unbusy that day, and she had stood up to stretch and talk to the person in the next booth (who was also not busy). Suddenly, the manager approached her and said, "You can't just 'stand around' like that. You have to DO something. If you're not busy, sign off and go get a broom or something, sweep, we're not paying you to talk to your friends!"

There's a completely enslaving attitude about work in the U.S., the worker seen as the lazy bum, stealing money. And yet, recently I've been hearing how the American workplace is actually LESS productive than workplaces abroad.

Reminds me when I toured a cigar factory in Honduras a few years ago with some other cigar smokers. We were in the factory and all of us were smoking but we did not see any ashtrays. The guide said to just dump the ashes on the ground and someone will take care of it. Sure enough a minute later a woman went by pushing a broom and removed the ashes. The factory floor BTW was immaculate as they had 2 or 3 women running around with these brooms sweeping up. When some of us looked a little guilty about dumping the ashes on the ground the guide told us not to feel guilty because if they had nothing to clean up they would not have a job.

Maybe someone should remind SI and whoever had that CS rep job to shut up and be glad they have a job. At 10% unemployment there are probably a bunch of people that would not have any problems keeping busy between calls.

[Tucker]

Why are we the envy of the free world and not Germany? Why do people from all over the world risk their life trying to get here?

Here's a clue. It's not to be part of the 47% of parasites. It's to be part of the 53% who strive to improve their standard of living. Everybody has an equal chance.

[jukin]

If you have time for leaning you should be cleaning.

[Ogre]

Why are we the envy of the free world and not Germany? Why do people from all over the world risk their life trying to get here?

Here's a clue. It's not to be part of the 47% of parasites. It's to be part of the 53% who strive to improve their standard of living. Everybody has an equal chance.

Amen to that, DUmmies like Sarah will never understand that.

[Chris_]

Amen to that, DUmmies like Sarah will never understand that.

I would wholly support shipping her ass over there so she can find out on her own.

[Skul]

This is kind of funny.

This, without even mentioning that they have unions, get paid more, and don't have to depend on jobs to have health care, which is socialized.

Tell us, Silly Sarah.
What's the tax rate in Deutschland?

[Wineslob]

This is kind of funny.
Tell us, Silly Sarah.
What's the tax rate in Deutschland?

Looking at what I make, I would be damn close to the 45% rate (more like 40), and I make under 60K a year. Ya I would be taxed at nearly 10% more. At that rate I don't know if I could make my mortgage payments. This does not include all the other taxes in their system.

So, silly Sarah, I would have to just about DOUBLE my income to break even.

DUmbass

[Karin]

And yet, recently I've been hearing how

Studies show that

Liberals spout this crap all the time and it's time people stopped listening.  All these social science "studies" are utter bullshit, with deeply flawed methodology.  And quotes used above can be pulled right out of thin air. 

[GOBUCKS]

Looking at what I make, I would be damn close to the 45% rate (more like 40), and I make under 60K a year. Ya I would be taxed at nearly 10% more. At that rate I don't know if I could make my mortgage payments. This does not include all the other taxes in their system.

So, silly Sarah, I would have to just about DOUBLE my income to break even.

DUmbass

 
PLUS, you'd have to live in Europe, a decaying socialist hellhole that begins at Portugal's Atlantic shore,
and extends eastward until it meets a decaying communist hellhole.

Europe is like Detroit, except it goes on and on, and there's no Grosse Pointe.

[Chris_]

Retail and consumer prices are a lot higher to pay for all the "luxuries" they have like national health service and retire-at-55 government pensions.

[Ballygrl]

How's Europe's economy doing?

[67 Rover]

Reminds me when I toured a cigar factory in Honduras a few years ago with some other cigar smokers. We were in the factory and all of us were smoking but we did not see any ashtrays. The guide said to just dump the ashes on the ground and someone will take care of it. Sure enough a minute later a woman went by pushing a broom and removed the ashes. The factory floor BTW was immaculate as they had 2 or 3 women running around with these brooms sweeping up. When some of us looked a little guilty about dumping the ashes on the ground the guide told us not to feel guilty because if they had nothing to clean up they would not have a job.

Maybe someone should remind SI and whoever had that CS rep job to shut up and be glad they have a job. At 10% unemployment there are probably a bunch of people that would not have any problems keeping busy between calls.

[/color]


Actually, I believe this is one of those rare bouncy tales within an illogical argument.  Everything described in dear Sarah's tale of the customer service boss from hell is in an episode of "The Office" almost word for word.

[JohnnyReb]

"Why do we work harder than Germans?" ...I don't how we can allow a DUmmie to use the term "WE" in a question like that when we all know there is no "WE" when it comes to DUmmies and work.

I guess the "WE" is in referrence to the few of us who do work or did work when younger. ....and we had to work harder to support you damn deabeat DUmmies.

[DumbAss Tanker]

Sarah Ibarruri (16,477 posts) Profile Journal Send DU Mail Ignore


 Why do we work harder than Germans?

Because despite many salutary features in German culture and a generally-laudable work ethic, they suffer from an unfortunate infestation of Socialists and Muslims.  Not enough to entirely ruin the place, unlike, say, France; but enough to drag them down.

[miskie]

I wonder if Sarah realizes that Germany's relative strength compared to the other Eurozone nations is because of massive austerity measures, followed by shoring up financial giants in such a way that Germany now has the upper hand in determining the fate of the Euro -and to a lesser extent, the countries that now depend upon it - especially the ones receiving bailouts that are heavy with German investment ?

I also wonder if Sarah realizes that Germany has been thwarting their Muslim population any way they can - the latest hit is the new ban on Muslim prayer in schools, as allowing it creates 'severe conflicts' according to the German equivalent to The Supreme Court ?

If one replaces references to Germany with references to the United States while keeping the substance of these stories the same, I suspect Sarah would be condemning these stories, and not praising them.

[NHSparky]

Sarah--YOU certainly don't work harder than the average German.  Hell, you don't work harder than the average welfare recipient.

Wanna know the kind of hours I put in?  Take the average German.  Double it.  You're pretty close.  Then again, I don't live in a 400 sq. ft. crackerbox where one has to put up a deposit of up to six months' rent, and take the subway because I can't even afford the most basic vehicle.  I go out once in a while and don't have to pay 4 Euros (about $6) for a pint of beer.

Quality of life, hon.  Ain't even close.

[Tucker]

Customer service positions must pay pretty good money. Jeanette can support herself and the Las Vegas Leviathan on her income.

[Duke Nukum]

I think she is cranky and hurt because Nads is going to be the Number 1 DUmmie of the year while she is only somewhere in the top ten.

But really, Nads is great at turning a phrase or two whereas whatever-her-name-is' writing is as compelling as watching oatmeal cool and harden.