France: What happened from 2019?

From 2019, in France we saw: A sharp rise in absenteeism ; A sharp fall in per capita productivity; A loss of purchasing power for wages ( from the beginning of 2021 ); Significant hiring difficulties (with the exception of 2020 due to COVID). It is likely that the COVID crisis, followed by the effects of the war in Ukraine (inflation, collapse of the pay hierarchy) exacerbated the feeling of a loss of meaning in work ( for 90% of employees it is important that the company allows them to give meaning to their work 1 ), a lack of recognition ( 54% of employees see work as "a necessary constraint to provide for their needs " rather than as "a means for individuals to fulfil their potential in life 2 " ) and suffering at work. The result has been an increase in absenteeism and a fall in productivity, leading to major recruitment difficulties. 1 Ipsos study, " The end of lockdowns and the resumption of activity", June 2020 . 2 “ A love /hate relationship: The ambivalence of the new relationship with work”, Ifop focus no. 234 for the Fondation Jean Jaurès, January 2023.