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 for regular employment contracts and determines when overtime compensation becomes applicable. The 35-hour week, formally known as the "durée légale du travail," applies to all private sector workers unless a collective bargaining agreement or individual employment contract specifies different terms, provided those terms do not fall below the statutory minimum.

The rule is governed by the French Labour Code (Code du travail), specifically the provisions regulating working time duration for private sector employees. This standard was established through the Aubry Laws (Lois Aubry) of 1998 and 2000, which reduced the legal working week from 39 hours to 35 hours, effective from 1 January 2000. The measure aimed to promote employment and improve work-life balance across the French workforce.

Employers and payroll teams must ensure that standard employment contracts do not require more than 35 hours of work per week without triggering overtime obligations. Any hours worked beyond 35 per week must be compensated either through additional pay (typically at a premium rate) or compensatory time off, depending on the applicable collective agreement or employment contract terms. Time tracking and accurate recording of hours worked are essential for compliance. Employers should review their payroll systems and employment contracts to confirm alignment with this statutory requirement and understand how overtime is calculated and compensated under their specific industry's collective bargaining agreement.