French Jobs Law Failure

Are you familiar with the probationary period that exists with American employers? Basically, a new employee has to be very good on the job for a certain amount of time (6 months, I think), or else they risk termination without cause.
As I recall, one of the things that French law did was to extend that probationary period to a 5 year limit instead, and this was a big bonus for companies, while a big negative for employees.
I do not think this is the whole of the issue one bit, but it is a small aspect of it.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

What I want to know is why something like that is inhibiting job growth to begin with.
Why can't the companies stop being such pansies, and take some risk in hiring those people?

How ya doing, buddy?

Originally Posted by Dhsu

Well, let's say they make a mistake, and pick a total slacker who happened to do well in the interview or something. Now they're stuck with him forever. Nobody wants to take that level of risk...and if it means being a "pansy" then so be it.

Funny thing is, if it weren't for whiny unions demanding their way, I am sure this would have been of no concern in the first place. After all, what else is preventing them from firing employees for reduced or poor performance?

Ah, it is funny how the left wing always manages to tie itself into knots of laws that can only be remedied by more laws.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.