How is this different than Somali pirates? Besides the fact that the pirates are actually willing to work for the pay.

(An update even before the post below was posted, now the Belgians are getting in on the act by "bossnapping" a few Fiat types outside of Bruxelles.)

In this day of failing newspapers, column space is tight and reporters may not be able to tell the whole story. For instance, the latest "bossnapping" was over before it started:

The first Britons to be caught up in the spate of "bossnappings" in were today released by their staff after being held captive overnight.

Three British managers, including one woman, and a French male colleague were detained at the factory in Bellegarde in the foothills of the French Alps when negotiations over terms of the plant's closure broke down yesterday.

Workers blocked the entrance to the site, run by Scapa Group plc, with a truck, said the company's European finance director, Ian Bushell.

He described the hostage taking as a "non-aggressive action", adding that the unions had brought the four managers dinner.

Bushell said: "As of lunchtime today, the workers agreed to let them go to local government offices to have ongoing dialogue about the closure. Then they [the managers] will be able to drive away from the site."

"Non-agressive" as long as you are not the one being held. However, as with the previous instances of this latest justice sociale craze, no mention of arrests. Column space must indeed be tight.

Meanwhile you can have your say as to the pro/con of bossnapping here. One would hope the latest results of this poll are the results of a poorly worded question. However, given the source of the respondents this may be a hope too far.

(Yet another update on yet another new bossnapping, hard to keep them straight - 00:44 CET)