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.

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Got a question about working in France? Get in touch at news@connexionfrance.com

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

Simpler future ahead for the self-employed

Self-employed workers will see significant changes next year as traders, artisans and private practice professionals switch from the much-criticised Régime Social des Indépendants (RSI) social security scheme to that of salaried workers, the régime général.

Rule changes coming in

Two changes are coming in that will affect the revenue declarations and sick pay of self-employed workers such as artisans, sole traders, liberal professions or freelancers.

Claiming kilométrage costs against taxable income

I am told that employees can claim kilométrage costs against taxable income for their car journey to work. Can you tell me how I work this out? Do I need to keep details of all work/non-work usage and what happens with insurance costs?

Modistes let fashion go to their heads

Both chapelier (hatter/hatmaker) and modiste (milliner) are métiers d’art, and the differences between them are subtle: the chapelier works primarily with felt, straw and fabric and produces classic hats for both men and women; while the modiste sees hats as art objects and tends to make unique pieces, usually for women.

Make sense of... Le baccalauréat

Created in 1808, the ‘Bac’, is the French school leaving exam and a pass - at least 10/20 overall – grants students the right to go to university. There are plans for reforms of the exam by 2021

Diversifying holiday businesses to survive and thrive

In an ever-changing tourism market, how can a holiday business survive in France? One answer is to diversify, as Annaliza Davis found when she asked five businesses how they have developed and what advice they would give others thinking of following in their footsteps

Incubator women who are changing face of enterprise

“It's just a start.” That is how Roxanne Varza, the director of Paris’s massive start-up incubator Station F, describes the news that 40% of new businesses now operating within its walls are run by women.

'Home' is taken out of homework

Homework and the primary school week are two areas where parents may see changes for their children in the next school year as the new Education Minister, Jean-Michel Blanquer, prepares for September’s rentrée.

Changes in tax collection under Macron

I read in Connexion that there was to be a big change coming in the way that tax is collected in France with income tax coming out of our pay packet instead of by self-declaration. Now that there is a new president, is that still going to happen and what are the deadlines?

Erasmus marks 30 years of new opportunities

The Erasmus exchange programme is 30 this year and although started as a way to open up opportunities Europe-wide for students it has now been expanded to do the same for under-30s and even older people working in education.

First steps begin in plan to reform Code du Travail

France’s new government is set to move ahead this month with the first steps in its plan to reform labour laws, the Code du Travail, using edicts called ordonnances to cut delays.

All the world’s a stage for métiers

In the theatre actors are key but they can get vital help from the scénographe-décorateur who provides the stage that is essential for their performance.

Welfare cover for small businesses

I am self-employed but want to have better welfare cover in case of possible illness or unemployment. Is there a way I can pay for this as a separate cover as I do not have access to that provided for other workers?

New apprentice age limit

Several regions are experimenting with a new, higher age limit for apprentices to give better employment opportunities for those in the 25-30 age group, hit by poor job prospects in past years.

Keeping paperwork used for tax returns

For how long do I need to keep paperwork used for tax returns?

Recruitment on the rise in France

150,000 more job offers in 2017 than in the previous 12 months

Open business database is a mine of free information

Opening up public information databases means professional details for any business, no matter the sector, are available for free online – which could save heartache for anyone planning a building or other project or even anyone thinking of buying a pet dog.