France has allowed ‘al desko’ eating; now how about adopting a French custom?

It is not surprising that France has a provision in its labour code that forbids people from eating at their desks. That partially explains why, despite legally mandated 35-hour work week, French people end up spending far longer at ‘work’: there are 90-minute lunch breaks and numerous coffee interludes. So, it is no surprise that it has taken a pandemic for the authorities to relent on the French convivial mealtimes, and allow the ‘American’ habit of eating at workstations.

Considering Emmanuel Macron is the first French president to openly speak and even tweet in English, such a concession to un-French activities during his term in office is only to be expected, pandemic exigences notwithstanding. Presumably, the nationalists have been pacified by the caveat that ‘al desko’ eating will only be allowed as long as social distancing and work from home-mandated disruptions last.

Meanwhile, the French also have a practice that the Anglosphere can consider adopting. To make up for the extra hours the French work over the mandated 35 per week, under RTT (réduction du temps de travail), companies give extra vacation time. That is why although under the law they get six weeks’ annual leave, many notch up well over eight weeks, not counting national holidays. That should be worth staying al desko for meals and more.