[NewsPoster]

Apple France must pay labor unions À10,000 ($13,000) in fines for regularly forcing retail employees to work after 9PM, a Parisian court has ruled. Agence France-Presse adds that for every subsequent violation, Apple will have to pay 50,000 euros ($65,000). Under French law, demanding work between 9PM and 6AM is reserved for exceptional cases, and requires special justification.

Apple Stores commonly close to the public at 9PM, but it's noted that Apple often makes workers stay an extra two hours for cleanup and next-day preparations. In arguing against the ruling, Apple has claimed that after-hours work is not unusual, and that it hasn't done anything wrong. Several French Apple Stores are affected in the ruling, including l'Opera in Paris, Parly 2 in Le Chesnay, Carre Senart in Lieusaint, Val d'Europe in Marne-la-Vallee, CAP 3000 in Nice, and Atlantis in Saint Herblain. The court is expected to hand down another ruling on April 16.

[Inkling]

France is weird. I actually prefer late-night work for my 'support my writing' jobs at events. I'm too tired then to write anyway, so getting paid is a plus. The same would be true if I worked retail. And I'd certainly rather work later to clean the store than to come in early to do the same thing.

Like I said, France is weird. It passes laws against people doing what people often want to do. Culturally, It's the worst of all possible worlds. It's Prussian in all its meddlesome regulations but without the redeeming benefits of a Prussian work ethic. The result is an economy in the chronic doldrums.

[FireWire]

How do stores replenish their display and clean the place? So, you can't rent a movie or go to the theatre at night? No McDonald after a night of drinking?

[mattyb]

People all over France work during these hours. It's probably the 'forcing' aspect that got Apple in trouble.