wallydownundy

The French are…different. When there’s a dispute at work it’s quite acceptable to kidnap the boss. This month the head of Sony France was held captive - as was a colleague - as staff were upset over benefits. There’s a pleasant photo in “The Economist” of him sitting in his a meeting room in shirt and tie dining on take-away. Apparently he was treated humanely. They gave him Internet connection so he could update his Facebook status (”Je demande liberte!”).

Apres La Revolution: Sony employees locked Sony France execs Serge Foucher and Roland Bentz in a meeting room for a night because they were upset about getting fired and not getting the same relocation package as other workers. After the CEO agreed to continue negotiations, the workers set him free. (Source: CrunchGear)

It appears “le kidnapping” is a popular technique “en France”. It’s seen as a useful way to demonstrate disappointment in management’s actions. It’s hard to imagine, though, what the first “All Staff Meeting” is like after the boss is let free…?