On Navigating the French Workplace With Aplomb

I just came across a review of a French book on office etiquette entitled Le Carnet du Savoir-Vivre au Bureau by author Laurence Caracalla that pricked my curiosity. Having worked in Paris for a number of years, I do recall experiencing a certain sense of culture shock that lasted roughly the first two years of my Parisian sojourn. The review reminded me of the deeply entrenched hierarchy of the French workplace and the significant inequities I witnessed between men and women that shocked my North American sensibilities and often left me flabbergasted. I could so have used her book.

I'm also very curious to see whether the author touches upon some of my own workplace experiences. For instance, I would love to know her recommended course of action when dealing with a very senior executive who routinely confused junior female colleagues with his secretary. I half expected him one day to send me out to get his coffee and send her to the library to further research a sticky negotiation point. In his mind, we were essentially interchangeable. Or, the equally senior executive who in fits of alcoholic delusions would storm into my office accusing me of having stolen one of his office chairs. By the next day, he would have forgotten the incident and not understand why I was reluctant to work with him on his projects. Or, the fact that although women are expected to look impeccable at all times, the men routinely looked like they dressed in the dark. Or, the groveling one was expected to engage in when in the presence of someone more senior. Good times.

To be fair, the workplace in question was rather arcane and still very male-dominated. It's also possible that my experiences were highly unusual even for France (although I doubt it). I most definitely will be ordering a copy of Ms. Caracalla's book. Call it a trip down memory lane.

Sincerely,

The Luxe Chronicles

Comments

[Make Do Style]

Oh yes my days with France Telecom when I worked for Orange!

I'm going to be head down for a week to write 12,000 words so I might post but probably won't comment due to my deadline.

[John Agee Paris]

I had a very good chuckle at much of what you had to say. It's very difficult to communicate to someone who has never lived in France exactly the sheer lunacy of the natives' customs. For all the "liberté, égalité, fraternité", women do on the surface seem to take a back seat to men professionally. But they seem to have more than compensated by completely ruling the roost at home. Sit at any café in Paris and watch the body language between couples: the poor French men don't even have a chance!

Ah, mais c'est toujours la belle France...