Giving an end-of-year tip to certain workers is common in France, but can be confusing for those not used to the system.
These cash gifts, called ‘étrennes’, are a long-running social practice and while not regulated by laws in any official ‘Code’, usually adhere to informal rules.
They are handed to certain workers you may have a close relationship with, such as postal workers, gardeners, or a concierge.
You are not required to hand over money, although in some cases the funds go to local charities and funds.
In other situations, having a good relationship with workers can lead to an improved service throughout the year.
Below, we explain the practice.
What are étrennes and who receives them?
The concept of étrennes are wide reaching in France, but usually apply to one of two end-of-year situations:
Giving money to a worker from a professional organisation who knocks on your door, sometimes in exchange for a calendar
Giving money to a private or domestic worker as a means of saying thank you for their work across the year
In the case of the former, it is usually firefighters, postal workers, and refuse collectors who undertake the practice.
They may offer small calendars in return for the money, with collected funds often going towards improving resources for local workers or to a charity or trust, for example for orphaned children of firefighters.
You do not need to hand over any money, but it is often seen as a polite thing to do as it goes towards a good cause.
Rules differ between authorities, but these workers should be dressed in official clothing – especially firefighters – and will not take offence to you asking for official identification if they are legitimate.
An increasing number of scams and ‘fake’ collectors has seen calls for prudence during the holiday season.
In some areas such as Paris, the practice is banned for municipal workers (waste collectors, sewage workers, etc), although firefighters and postal workers may still knock as these are not employed directly by the Paris mairie.
Police and gendarmes are banned nationwide from collecting étrennes.
In other areas, you may be informed by local authorities of any upcoming collections.
If in doubt, you can always ask your mairie as they will know when legitimate workers will be making the rounds.
When it comes to the latter type of étrenne, these are more flexible and it is usually your responsibility to hand it out (workers will not come and ask you).
While there is no ‘official’ list of the people you should offer an étrenne to, it is common to give them to people who provide a consistent service in your building or home.
This includes your building concierge or gardien/gardienne, as well as your gardener, cleaner, babysitter, etc.
Again, it is not an obligation to hand these out, but a thoughtful measure and a gesture of goodwill. While nothing officially changes if you hand out an étrenne or not, workers who receive them are likely to remember it and put in a little extra effort in return.
As the practice is common, you do not need to discreetly give the étrenne, but should hand it over towards the end of the year, either during a worker’s final shift or in December.
You can hand over the cash, either on its own or with a little note, and it is also polite to say thank you.
How much should you give and must it be declared?
There is no official amount you are expected to give in either case, as the practice is not regulated.
People usually hand over anything between €1 to €20 to door-knockers, but it is most common to simply hand over a note (so €5, €10, or €20).
You can offer a larger cash donation if you want, but they will not accept any card or cheque payments – if you want to make a significant donation this should be done through other channels.
For domestic workers, amounts vary depending on the work they do and the relationship between you and them.
The amount is freely decided by the employer (or discussed in advance) and is usually between one week and one month’s salary depending on their hours and how long they have been employed with you.
If given in cash, it is often rounded to the nearest clean number (for example, if the étrenne would be €47.50, a €50 note and ‘keep the change’ practice would be used).
However unlike with door-knockers, étrennes for domestic employees can be made via cheque or bank transfer.
In all cases, the tip should be declared through the relevant employment system (Cesu or Pajemploi), as social security contributions apply (although employers receive a 50% tax credit).
For concierges and gardiens/gardiennes, the practice is becoming less common after collective bargaining agreements for a 13 month’s pay to be included in standard salaries (with salaries coming from resident building charges).
This was set to replace étrennes in the profession, but many people still choose to hand over a small amount to say thank you.
Again this comes in the form of cash, or sometimes in a gift such as a bottle of champagne/wine or a box of chocolates.
Despite being gifts, étrennes do not need to be declared to authorities as they fall under the concept of ‘typical’ gifts (weddings, graduations, etc) so long as they do not consist of a significant portion of the giver’s wealth.
They are not tax-deductible for givers.
