This slogan from French secondary-school pupils – a play on the French expression for earning a living, “gagner sa vie”, literally “to win one’s life” – seen in a photo published in Les Echos, is rich in content and in stakes…
Because it is a caricature of the relationship to work as it is perceived and spread in our country. The media rarely cover those who flourish in their working lives, or those who quite simply “don’t ask themselves questions”, even in tough jobs, because they simply take on their responsibilities: feeding and housing their families, educating their children, paying their taxes…
Because it no doubt also reflects the lack of economic literacy of a great many of our fellow citizens (I am one of them, having never been taught anything on the subject, either at school or at university), who do not ask themselves where their income comes from, whether it is paid by a company, a public authority, or through solidarity and public assistance mechanisms…
“You have to take the money where it is”, one sometimes hears. In a moment of irritation, I would be tempted to reply that money is not “collected” like the coins in Mario Bros…
But there are other avenues.
Political choices, no doubt – but that is not the purpose of this blog.
More locally, but day to day and close at hand, companies – and very concretely their leaders and managers, including those closest to the ground – can contribute to raising the general level, to this necessary education:
– by explaining managerial choices, constraints and stakes;
– by sharing strategies, in the light of development prospects and the international context;
– by contributing to the “lifelong” learning of these citizen-employees who too often arrive (or have arrived) in the business world as if in unknown territory;
– in short, by opening minds to subjects that the education system and television programmes do not always address constructively…
Is this the direct responsibility of companies, of managers? Some might say no – that the company’s responsibility is more immediate.
I think, on the contrary, that it is a major issue, because it is impossible (or at least very dangerous) for a business owner or leader to take no interest in the general context with which all the actors interact.
And it is day to day that these actions take lasting root.
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