Working hours & days
in France.

SALARY PAYMENT IN Euro (EUR, €)

CONTRACT LANGUAGES French / English

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TIME TO HIRE 12 hours

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France

What are the standard working hours in France?

The standard working hours in France are a maximum of 35 hours (7 hours a day, five days a week) per full-time week for all companies regardless of their workforce. This is the point from which, with some exceptions, overtime is calculated.

Employees can work more than the statutory working hours either on a one-off basis (overtime) or as part of a specific working time arrangement. Specific rules apply to both circumstances.

Standard working hours can vary based on the industry and is subject to any collective bargaining agreements.

What are the standard working days in France?

The standard working days in France are Monday to Friday.

How many hours can you work per week in France?

With occasional exceptions, employees must not work more than:

An average of 44 hours a week during any 12 consecutive weeks.
48 hours during any given week.
Ten hours a day.
220 hours of overtime a year (subject to applicable CBAs or company collective agreements).

Also, employees must rest at least once a week for 24 consecutive hours and must not work on Sundays (with occasional exceptions).

How many hours is part-time work in France?

In the absence of an agreement, the minimum working time for a part-time employee is set at 24 hours per week or a shorter duration provided by a collective bargaining agreement.

How many hours is overtime in France?

Overtime is hours worked over the established standard weekly limit of 35 hours. There is a maximum of 220 hours of overtime per year.

Is it illegal to work on the weekend in France?

No, however, an employer cannot employ an employee more than 6 days a week and employees must rest at least once a week for 24 consecutive hours. In general, employees should not work on Sundays but there are several exemptions from the right to Sunday rest.

Does France have a four-day work?

Not strictly speaking, but it is possible to negotiate a more flexible working schedule for all employees at the company level. Working time can notably be reorganised on a multiple-week basis: the employee works an average of 35 hours over four (or more) weeks, while their working time is different each week. However, statutory restrictions on working time must be met and the employees duly informed of the working schedule.

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FAQs

Is there a maximum amount of overtime annually in France?

Yes. There is a maximum of 220 hours of overtime per year.

What is the rate for overtime pay in France?

Unless a collective agreement provides for a different rate of overtime pay (which cannot be less than an additional 10% of the normal rate of pay), overtime pay must be paid at the rate of:

125% salary per hour for the first eight hours of overtime worked per week ;
150% salary per hour for all overtime worked above eight hours per week.

Is there an alternative to paying overtime?

A common arrangement in France involves trading hours for more days off during the year, or RTT (Réduction du temps de travail, or Reduction of working time). Because many employees do actually work longer work weeks, this means offering a certain number of compensatory days off during the year, in addition to existing leave entitlements. This lets French workers be more flexible with their work hours.

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Working hours & days
in France.

What are the standard working hours in France?

What are the standard working days in France?

How many hours can you work per week in France?

How many hours is part-time work in France?

How many hours is overtime in France?

Is it illegal to work on the weekend in France?

Does France have a four-day work?

Hiring in France, Made Easy

FAQs

Success stories from businesses we’ve helped enter and grow in new markets.

Client Testimonials

180+

100+

24x5

130+

180+

100+

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The Global Workforce Payment Platform

What to expect when you connect with Horizons

Working hours & days in France.

What are the standard working hours in France?

What are the standard working days in France?

How many hours can you work per week in France?

How many hours is part-time work in France?

How many hours is overtime in France?

Is it illegal to work on the weekend in France?

Does France have a four-day work?

Hiring in France, Made Easy

FAQs

Success stories from businesses we’ve helped enter and grow in new markets.

Client Testimonials

180+

100+

24x5

130+

180+

100+

24x5

130+

The Global Workforce Payment Platform

What to expect when you connect with Horizons

Working hours & days
in France.