Workplace culture and differences

France is well-known for its appreciation of ‘la belle vie’ and enjoyment of life’s pleasures. Nowhere is this more true than in the country’s balanced approach to work, whereby ‘working to live’ and not ‘living to work’ is very much part of the national character. For foreigners, having an understanding of the world of work and how things are done is key to appreciating where this important (yet singular) component part fits in the grand scheme of life in France.

The basics

Full-time work is a standard working week of 35 hours by law, with a legally guaranteed minimum 5 weeks paid vacation leave per year, plus public holidays (‘jours fériés’). Working beyond 35 hours is unusual, and is noted as overtime, which must be fully accounted for and compensated with additional pay or time off in lieu. 

Taking long periods of vacation is culturally acceptable, to the point where the month of August is seen as something of an unofficial national vacation when many businesses commonly close for several weeks, followed by the month of September being referred to as ‘la rentrée’ (back-to-school time) for children and adults alike.

There are 11 official public holidays in total (13 in eastern France), though the number of days off work can vary dependent on whether the holiday falls on a weekday or a weekend (if they fall on a Saturday or Sunday they are not moved). If a holiday falls on a day within reach of the weekend but not directly next to it (ie if it falls on a Tuesday or a Thursday), it is common practice to ‘faire le pont’ (lit. ‘make the bridge’) by taking one day of vacation leave to enjoy a long four-day weekend. 

Behavior and attitudes

Due to the fact that overtime is less common and more regulated, presentee-ism is not seen as a measure of productivity – nor is being seen to be busy viewed as a measure of success. A team effort is far more likely to be the standard approach to achieving objectives and rating efficiency, with a more formal and hierarchical structure in place to allow this to happen. Risk-taking is not as widespread, meaning that entrepreneurship and innovation can be slower due to administrative procedures and processes that must be respected.

Communication can be perceived as more critical and intellectualized than in the US, where positivity and optimism are often the method of delivery for feedback. Simply knowing that critique in France is an invitation for debate, which is valued and seen as a sign of engagement, can be a helpful way to reframe the experience, but be mindful of formalities and France-specific ‘formules de politesse’ (formulas of politeness) and manners when doing so.

Make sure to use the formal form ‘vous’ (‘you’) when addressing colleagues, until invited to use the more familiar ‘tu’ – that said, somewhat confusingly you will find instances where it is the done thing to greet each other with the seemingly less formal kissing of cheeks (‘faire la bise’) rather than a shaking of hands. On all fronts, where possible take your cue from those around you, and be prepared to show deference should you make an unwitting error of social judgement.

Why is France known for its labor laws and how have they shaped the workplace?

France is known for strong employment rights in favor of workers – here labor unions are powerful, strikes are commonplace (the right to strike is written into the French constitution), and employees benefit from protections such as the right to disconnect (ignore work emails after hours) designed to ringfence work-life balance. This reputation is due to a potent combination of historical, political, legal, and cultural factors that emphasize social protections, collective solidarity, and workers’ dignity.

The French Revolution of 1789 set in place a legacy of movements that emphasized equality and social justice, among them the rise of sector-wide trade unions in the following centuries, and the May 1968 protests that led to significant labor reforms. As a result, the ‘social model’ so synonymous with the French way of thinking plays a central role in protecting workers and ensuring benefits – French society values work-life balance, job security, and the idea that work should not dominate personal life. While these protections are often admired, they also attract criticism from business communities for being overly defended at the expense of growth and forward momentum.