Work

Moving to France and need to earn a living? Be inspired and stay informed with our in-depth guides to employment and running your own business, as well as real-life stories and work-related news updates.

Labour of love: meet the commuters who cross borders

With its beautiful countryside, culture-rich cities and idyllic seaside resorts, France is in many ways an ideal country to live in – but how far would you travel for the privilege? Gillian Harvey discovers the lengths that some people will go to

How death benefits work for family of self-employed workers in France

We explain what a typical lump sum payout might amount to, as well as what happens in the case of salaried people and civil servants, and how to claim

Social charges, sick leave, SMIC: Change for workers in France in 2023

We also look at how the self-employed will receive more support and how unemployment benefits are changing

Job vacancies: waiters wanted in France’s post-Covid employment boom

Warehouse workers, kitchen staff and technical sales people are also in demand, with promises of better pay

‘Bring your dog to work’ could lure people back to French offices

Studies show pets in the office can lower stress, improve communication and reduce absenteeism

Solution to bug hindering online French work permit applications

A reader who runs a bar in the Alps told of frustration completing the website form for non-EU workers; an official has explained what to do

Sick note clampdown stops French workers ‘shopping around’ online

Permission to stay at home will soon only be accessible from your designated GP – but the tighter rules have been met with criticism

Most strikes in France are on a Tuesday or a Thursday. Here’s why

A cross-sector strike is planned for tomorrow (October 27) and another for Thursday November 10

Cyber attack insurance is approved to protect French firms

France has also created special policing units to crack down on the hackers who take over a firm’s computer system and threaten to destroy or release data unless paid

Hope for French amethyst industry as friends open mine

The pair believe there are more gemstones in the ground despite serious efforts to uncover them ending a century ago

France moves to clamp down on workers’ training course scams

Employees and freelance workers can receive funding for professional training but the scheme is bogged down by aggressive marketing and fraud

Explainer: What help is there for people who are carers in France?

We explain the leave and compensation rights for people who care in a non-professional capacity for someone close to them

Two million independent workers in France to see social charges drop

Artisans, salespeople, heads of businesses, farmers and micro-entrepreneurs are among those to benefit dependent on their income

Insurance clarified for self-employed workers in France

Cover can be for everything from civil responsibility to cyber attacks – and now it has all been detailed in a legal manual

French set-up going to plan as UK wine wholesaler moves citing Brexit

€150,000 a year in extra costs were the catalyst for a change of country – but south of France lifestyle is added bonus

Labour shortage: France plans to tighten unemployment benefit rules

The government hopes to bring the unemployment rate down to 5% by 2027. It is currently at 7.4%

A record 520,000 workers in France resigned at the start of 2022

As companies struggle to recruit, employees are finding it easy to move between jobs and find advantageous wage and working condition offers

Self-employed status in France must be on invoices and bank accounts

Urssaf says independent workers can only benefit from new legal protection if status is on work-related documents

B&B owners in France receive music royalties bill for premises

Gîtes de France body demands clearer guidelines on who is liable and how it will be enforced

English speakers in demand in France - MBA courses and job coach roles

We look at two opportunities in France where being a native English speaker is an advantage

Explainer: what is France’s ‘talent’ visa and who can get one?

The passeport talent is a visa enabling workers who will make a significant contribution to the economy to live and work in France for several years

19% rise in resignations since Covid fuels French jobs boom

The pandemic has pushed people to explore alternative career paths, and has created a surge in opportunities. Some three million posts are expected to be on offer this year