"How Stupid Do You Think We Are?" Tire CEO Blasts French Work Ethic As Lazy

The CEO of a U.S. tire maker has delivered a crushing summary of how some outsiders view France's work ethic in a letter saying he would have to be stupid to take over a factory whose staff only put in three hours work a day.

Titan International's Maurice Taylor, nicknamed "The Grizz" for his negotiating style, told the left-wing French industry minister in a letter published by media on Wednesday that he had no interest in rescuing a plant set for closure.

"The French workforce gets paid high wages but works only three hours. They get one hour for breaks and lunch, talk for three and work for three," Taylor wrote on February 8 in the letter in English to the minister, Arnaud Montebourg.



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USNA1999 - 2/20/2013 12:36:25 PM

+4 Boost

This guy is awesome!

Agent009 - 2/20/2013 2:45:02 PM

+3 Boost

All I can say is dealing with the French is a challenge.

Ordering audio components from France in the spring is a nightmare.

Why? Because it is customary to go on vacation for what seems like months at a time. Place an order in May and you might see it in October if you are lucky.

1CarSmart1 - 2/21/2013 8:18:18 AM

-2 Boost

This man is an extremist who uses his postion of power to spew hate-speech. There should be compulsory retraining and reeducation for these wrongthinking old-western-world industrial power bosses.

SuperTurtlePlus - 2/21/2013 2:29:21 PM

+5 Boost

Are you French, 1CarSmart1? I ask because you seem a bit defensive of French work habits, yet are pretty quick to insult the fruits of American workers.

Oh well, for better or for worse, Americans are some of the hardest working people on the globe.

lexusrox123 - 2/21/2013 10:20:35 PM

+1 Boost

Not sure if trolling or actually insane.

lexusrox123 - 2/21/2013 10:20:46 PM

+1 Boost

This is gold.

1CarSmart1 - 2/22/2013 6:51:08 AM

0 Boost

The french build many things the world wants. america build weapons and horrible cars.

France 1 america 0

americans may work hard (at Walmart) but they do not work Smart like the French.