This Wednesday, on the Tour, a big mountain stage.
The Telegraph, the Galibier, the Granon… Enough to keep all cycling aficionados in suspense.
But many of them work, the stage taking place during the day.
Not said however that they do not look at it out of the corner of the eye, as they could do for a match at Roland or a quarter-final of the World Cup in the middle of the afternoon.
Epiphenomenon or real loss for the country's economy?
3 p.m., this Wednesday, Tour de France.
The minute Romain Bardet decides to go alone on a breakaway, while Pogacar and Vingegaard are simultaneously victims of cramps and forced to retire.
The whole country is hanging on to the pedal strokes of the tricolor rider, who knocks the competition down and becomes favorite for the final victory in Paris.
A resounding feat, but while the future Yellow Jersey makes the whole of France cry, the country loses a point of GDP, a large part of the employees having produced nothing in the afternoon.
A somewhat far-fetched scenario, we grant you that.
But all the same.
Sunny days are punctuated by very popular sporting events in the middle of the afternoon – Roland-Garros in May/June, the Tour de France in July, the Euro or the Football World Cup every other summer, the Olympic Games once every four years in August – broadcast on free channels.
With people watching TV.
The Tour de France 2021?
Three million viewers on average every day.
The filthy France-Denmark of 2018, on a Tuesday afternoon?
It had attracted 8.7 million curious people.
And the last Roland-Garros?
It taped 1.9 million viewers every afternoon.
With, in the lot, employees more focused on sporting exploits than on company figures.
Why should France lose its productivity?
Not the end of the world
"The attention to work of some of the employees will disappear at the time of the sporting event, a fortiori in particularly hot moments", recognizes Bernard Vivier, director of the Higher Institute of Labor.
But not enough to put France on hold either: “Nobody, except in the event of time arrangements, watches the entirety of a Djokovic match or a complete stage of the Tour de France.
It's just diffuse inattention over several hours.
Far from being the end of the (work) world.
“The important thing is to fulfill the objective of the day, week or month”, recalls the expert: an obligation vis-à-vis the employer, he insists.
But the employee can adapt as long as he returns his work on time.
So yes, Michel will not be focused this afternoon, but cautious as he is, he will have worked hard this morning, or will finish later this evening, or will work twice as hard the other days of the week.
Especially since during the health crisis, confinements and teleworking, the French have been all the more emancipated from fixed hours, notes Thomas Coutrot, economist and specialist in labor issues: “Now, the employee works more and more on its own rhythm and its own time sequences.
Work less to work better
“Major sporting events are known well in advance, giving employees time to organize themselves,” adds Bernard Vivier.
For Florence Benichoux, doctor and specialist in the quality of life at work, author of
What if we worked DIFFERENTLY?
(
Eyrolles Edition), “during these periods of high sports masses, there is less working time, but not necessarily less production.
Often, even, employees feel guilty for having watched the match for a long time and put a lot of intensity into their work afterwards, or are more enthusiastic after a good sports sequence.
And then finally, is it so serious if the company's production drops for a while?
“Business efficiency doesn't have to be routine or monotonous.
It can have its ups and downs, its changes of pace.
It's even healthy, ”abounds Bernard Vivier.
Same observation with Thomas Coutrot: “In a company, it's not just production that counts, you have to get out of this mono-vision.
A working France is not just about productivity at all costs”.
Long term benefit
This temporary deconcentration could even be a good thing in the long run.
Who hasn't had a good time screaming around the only TV screen in the open space, talking with colleagues who were previously unknown to the battalion?
“Friendliness in the workplace is not a factor of economic inefficiency.
On the contrary, it strengthens the links, unites the teams, ”says Thomas Coutrot.
Same analysis for Florence Benichoux: “After two years marked by the health crisis and the remoteness of the teams, it is important that the company finds a binder, that it offers convivial moments, and that there is a value and human warmth to come face-to-face.
These are essential moments.
»
Conclusion by Bernard Vivier: “The company is not just a working machine, it is a place where people live together.
As much as they are happy to coexist, with moments away from production or profitability figures.
A Tour de France watched with one eye between colleagues during the job, that's also the life of a box”.
Come on, we'll leave you, the Galibier is approaching.
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