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Comment by avz | Hacker News Reader

> France does have regulation, but so does the US

It isn't about the presence of some regulation. It is about the burdens and costs associated with it.

French regulations are very cumbersome and costly, especially when it comes to labour market. For example, every company with 50 or more employees needs to establish a works council (Comité d’Entreprise). This costs money and time. It is also one of many examples of regulation that brings about the culture of hostility between employees and employers.

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> For example, every company with 50 or more employees needs to establish a works council (Comité d’Entreprise). This costs money and time.

Actually, not that much. You have one year to install it, and it mainly consists of an election you have to organize. If you can't organize that kind of stuff once every two year or so, I don't understand how you can face other business challenges.

> It is also one of many examples of regulation that brings about the culture of hostility between employees and employers.

In most of the companies, it only consists of giving money to employees and managers picked charities and giving perks like theaters tickets.

All of this is really manageable for startups with more than 50 employees, and most of the time, it is already done by them to attract employees.

How does this bring about a culture of hostility? Industrial relations in the USA is far more violent than in the EU.

I remember one organizer saying that a good matured dispute in the USA was one with no gunfire and that they had to carry for self protection.

This is essentially equivalent to what every startup does in the US with perks and team building. I don't see how this creates more trouble for a French company.

It actually brings them closer together. I don't see how it fosters hostility. Care to elaborate on that point?

It is more burdenful than costly though - compared to the costs of hiring and keeping employees in the US, I think the costs are competitive.

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