Kevin O’Leary is known for his sharp and often brutal comments. The same happened recently as well when he launched a stream of invective against France. The Shark Tank judge slammed France’s proposed two-day workweek idea and even called it “stupid”.
With a net worth of about $400 million, O’Leary surely knows a lot about business, and for the said plan, he said that it could crush the productivity of employees in a big way. These comments are already sparking debate online, and as usual, Mr. Wonderful isn’t sugarcoating anything. Let’s break down what he said.
Shark Tank’s Kevin O’Leary blasts France’s short workweek idea
Kevin O’Leary, known for his outspoken personality, didn’t hold back when he learned about France’s idea of a shorter workweek. In an interview via Fox News, he completely dismissed the proposal of a two-day workweek and even called it “the stupidest idea I have ever heard.” But what’s his main concern?
Well! According to him, such a plan would destroy productivity and make countries like France fall way behind in global competition. Throughout the years, Mr. Wonderful has built a strong reputation for being brutally honest.
So, it didn’t come as a huge surprise when he added that France can do what they want, and America will then use this opportunity to beat them internationally. He added:
I think we should let the French go to a two-day workweek and then kick their a** internationally.
The Shark Tank judge also added that in today’s world, especially in the digital age, the idea of a traditional five-day workweek is already outdated.
According to him, what really matters here is getting the job done, no matter when you do it. He also shared that about 40% of his staff work remotely, spread across different time zones, and he doesn’t care if they work at night or over the weekend.
For him, what’s important is that the deadlines are met and results are delivered. While he has his own opinion, several other companies and countries are, in fact, testing out shorter workweeks. Still, Mr. Wonderful isn’t convinced.
Kevin O’Leary ripped into Australia long before blasting France’s workweek plan
Interestingly, before Kevin O’Leary slammed France’s two-day workweek idea, he had already gone after Australia. That’s right – in August of 2024, millions of Australian workers got a new legal right called “Right to Disconnect.”
Under this, they could ignore messages or calls from their bosses after work hours. And of course, O’Leary was furious after learning this.
He detailed his disappointment in an interview with Fox News and added that the new rule made him “crazy” and even called it “dumb.” The Shark Tank judge also wondered how something like this was even considered. He said:
It’s so dumb. Who dreams this crap up is my question? Why would anyone propose such a stupid idea?
Under this rule, employees can ignore after-hours work communication unless it’s an emergency or their refusal is deemed unreasonable. But according to O’Leary, it just doesn’t make sense, especially in a business where things can go wrong at any time. O’Leary said:
What happens if you have an event in the office and it’s closed? Or you have an emergency somewhere and you have to get a hold of them at two in the morning because it affects the job they’re working on?
He even gave his own example and added that if someone pulled the same shtick on him, then he wouldn’t even think twice before firing them.
But while people like him think it’s bad for business, Australia believes it’s a step towards a better work-life balance. Do you agree with Kevin O’Leary’s comments? Let us know in the comments section below.
You can watch all the seasons of Shark Tank in the USA on Peacock.
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