Conditional implication using modal verbs and passive meaning.
Recently, a colleague returned from a business trip to Germany and raised a puzzling question. Due to his work schedule in Dortmund, he could only go shopping around five or six in the evening, but he found it difficult to do so. As soon as the clock struck 6:00 PM, even if the shop was crowded with customers, the staff would politely inform them that it was closing time. On weekends, most shops are not even open. He was confused: "Doesn't market economy say that the customer is God? Isn't making a profit the ultimate rule? How can they possibly drive 'God' out of the door?"
It turns out that in the eyes of Germans, extending operating hours might satisfy customers and benefit owners, but it would infringe upon the interests of the employees. The same applies to weekends; longer hours would mean workers' rest time could not be guaranteed. While my friend was bewildered, what we were actually witnessing was a reflection of labor relations in a mature market economy: customers are God, and employees are also God!
近日，一位同事从德国出差回来后，提出了一个令人困惑的问题。他在多特蒙德市因公务安排，每天都要到下午五六点才能结束工作，这时才有时间逛街，但每次都难以如愿。因为只要时间一到六点，即便店内挤满了顾客，店员也会礼貌地告知大家：商店已到下班时间，准备送客。到了周末，大多数商家甚至根本不开门。这位同事不解地问道：“市场经济不是说顾客是上帝吗？赚钱不应该是唯一的准则吗？他们怎么敢把‘上帝’赶出门呢？”
原来，在德国人的观念中，如果延长营业时间，虽然顾客满意了、老板获利了，但店员的利益却会受到损害。周末也是如此，如果延长营业时间，劳动者的休息权就无法得到保障。在朋友百思不得其解时，我们看到的其实是成熟市场经济背景下的一种劳资关系：顾客是上帝，而店员同样也是“上帝”。