In France, even riots respect office hours, lunch breaks and overtime pay

France has long understood something that lesser civilisations struggle to grasp - even revolution must respect office hours. French rioters may storm barricades, torch cars, and confront riot police with admirable professional commitment. But expecting them to continue without break would constitute an intolerable assault on work-life balance. The republic has standards.

Unlike ordinary protesters, who can 'leisurely' wave placards and shout slogans, rioters perform physically demanding labour. Looting stores, overturning vehicles and maintaining an adequate supply of combustible material can be exhausting. Surely, nobody expects a respectable French rioter to work through lunch? Indeed, occupational risks include tear gas, bruised knuckles, police batons and setting fire to one's own Peugeot. Appropriate hydration breaks should be mandatory. There is also the question of overtime. Should a riot extend beyond the statutory working day, participants deserve compensatory leave. Weekend insurrections should attract double rates. Night-time arson might qualify for additional hardship allowances. France's genius lies in reconciling revolutionary fervour with bourgeois comfort. The barricades may rise but lunch remains sacrosanct. After all, the French did not overthrow the ancien regime merely to replace it with an unreasonable line manager.