April 9, 2009
Guru has often said that the only thing wrong with France is that it's full of French people.
Now it seems that those French people are even more angry and agitated than usual. In the past month there have been five incidents of 'boss-napping' where disgruntled workers (or their representatives) take their bosses hostage in order to get what they want.
The latest piece of hostage taking came yesterday when three British bosses were held by workers at an adhesives factory in south-east France over plans to close the site.
Now comes the shocking revelation - one of those held against their will was the personnel manager.
Now it seems that those French people are even more angry and agitated than usual. In the past month there have been five incidents of 'boss-napping' where disgruntled workers (or their representatives) take their bosses hostage in order to get what they want.
The latest piece of hostage taking came yesterday when three British bosses were held by workers at an adhesives factory in south-east France over plans to close the site.
Now comes the shocking revelation - one of those held against their will was the personnel manager.
She was held captive alongside the factory boss and finance director, so at least HR was on an equal footing with finance for once.
The Scapa site is going to be shut, resulting in 60 job losses, so union bosses were understandably keen to get their point across. A Scapa spokesman said the action was "non-aggressive", although Guru wonders how holding someone against their will would be considered a peaceful move.
So where does this leave the future of industrial relations? Close to anarchy, Guru reckons. Don't like a pay freeze? Upset over pension cuts? Out comes the gaffer tape and blindfold...
Perhaps HR people in the future will have to develop a new specialism - hostage negotiation skills - to help free their captive executives from the angry mob.
The Scapa site is going to be shut, resulting in 60 job losses, so union bosses were understandably keen to get their point across. A Scapa spokesman said the action was "non-aggressive", although Guru wonders how holding someone against their will would be considered a peaceful move.
So where does this leave the future of industrial relations? Close to anarchy, Guru reckons. Don't like a pay freeze? Upset over pension cuts? Out comes the gaffer tape and blindfold...
Perhaps HR people in the future will have to develop a new specialism - hostage negotiation skills - to help free their captive executives from the angry mob.
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