Standard work time

Standard work time in France is set at 35 hours per week for full-time employees in the private sector. This legal maximum establishes the baseline threshold above which employers must compensate workers for overtime. The 35-hour week applies to most private sector employees and serves as the reference point for calculating working time, rest periods, and overtime compensation obligations.

The rule is codified in the French Labour Code (Code du travail) and is administered by the Ministry of Labour. The 35-hour standard was established by the Aubry Laws (Lois Aubry) in 1998 and 2000, which fundamentally restructured French employment law. This remains the current statutory requirement with no recent changes to the baseline figure.

Employers must ensure that full-time employees do not regularly exceed 35 hours per week without triggering overtime compensation requirements. Time worked beyond 35 hours in a given week must be compensated either through additional pay (typically at a premium rate) or compensatory time off, depending on collective agreements and individual employment contracts. Employers should maintain accurate timekeeping records to demonstrate compliance with the 35-hour threshold and to calculate any overtime obligations correctly. Payroll teams must account for overtime premiums when processing compensation, as failure to properly compensate excess hours can result in significant penalties. The rule applies uniformly across most private sector industries, though certain sectors and professions may have specific exemptions or variations outlined in their respective collective bargaining agreements.