The issue of Sunday work, preposterous in most of the countries of the world, is raised ferociously in France today. Indeed almost everywhere, it is authorized, at least for small shops in tourist destinations, and increasingly for other professions, despite churches and trade unions. The only European country that has set absolute prohibitions on Sunday work is Austria. In France, even if many millions of men and women (employees or employers, civil servants and merchants) are already allowed (or required ) to work on that day, countless others, are deprived of it, (or sheltered from it).
In order to develop an informed opinion, on this or any other issue, we must not be satisfied with listening only to those with the loudest voice, but try to understand the benefit of all stakeholders: employees, unemployed, consumers, shareholders, citizens, parents and children, who represent the future generations. It makes us realize that there are very few who do not have an interest in Sunday work.
The workers, employees or employers are increasingly in favor of it. First because they work more and more on Sundays, without being paid, on the Internet or otherwise. And they would like to do so while being paid, opting to increase their purchasing power, that decreased with the crisis, rather than their time off, which increased with 35 hours. The unemployed, in particular, are in favor of it, because Sunday working is a factor in growth and job creation. Indeed, trade unions, which oppose them, are only interested by nature in those who want to work less and not in those who want to work more; and even less in the unemployed. As will shortly be seen, with the negotiation, destined to fail, on vocational training reform.
The consumers also obviously want to see all of the shopping open on Sunday. And more generally all the professional services that are not yet open. Similarly, shareholders have an obvious interest in it. And this being the case of the national community, which has an interest in anything that can help its development. If only because of tourism, great sector of the future, which largely depends on what is open on Sundays.
And what about families? They are in principle against it. One can dream about this principle, common to many cultures, that one-day per week be devoted to reflection, rest and silence. Our time, by speeding up everything, does not make this principle inapplicable; it only requires it to be more flexible. Sunday is no longer the Day of the Lord; it is the day of sports, family lunches and distraction. And visiting a shop is an element of the distraction. We may regret this, but it is nevertheless the case. And all this can be done a day other than Sunday, for example on Wednesdays, a time shared with children.
As for the next generations, it is very much in their interest that they are being looked after; and for this they must demand that a right to one day per week with the family be given to them. Yet again, not necessarily on Sundays. Moreover, it is in their interest that growth be the highest possible, to reduce the burden of debt they will have to finance; and Sunday working contributes to this.
Overall, Sunday working must be completely freed; in all trades and occupations; without limits; not just small traders. Not just in tourist destinations: we are entering a society where everyone must win the freedom to choose his moments of work and freedom.
Of course, this must remain a freedom, not an obligation. No employer should be allowed to threaten to discharge an employee who does not want to work on Sundays. And conversely, an employee who wants to work on Sundays must be compensated if his boss refuses, under the supervision of the courts.
Any problems must be assessed this way in a global perspective and not based on the interests of the parties most directly concerned. If we were to consider all the societal issues and challenges in this way, many revolutions would happen.
j@attali.com