Practical work

Joining a gym in France - and why it is different to the UK and US

Cultural differences and practical steps to know about before signing up for a gym membership

Woman in a denim shirt typing on a laptop at home

France micro-entreprise: when is régime réel better?

New limits have been introduced from this year to qualify for the micro fixed-expense regimes

France’s pension reform suspension begins: who is impacted and how?

The suspension is in place until January 1, 2028

property

France’s new e-billing rules: six questions answered

Staggered introduction, foreign companies, penalties: we review who is impacted and how

Visitor visas for ‘digital nomads’ in France – is this permitted now?

Issue resurfaced again after MP asked question to interior ministry

Shop owner writing an order at a counter in a plant shop with a laptop and potted plants.

Who in France must switch to electronic billing and when?

Reform aims to reduce VAT fraud

A graphic of someone calculating savings and interest

Can small businesses earn interest on deposits in France?

Accounts in France are dominated by government-regulated products such as the Livret A and its higher-paying counterpart, the Livret d’épargne populaire (LEP)

Afroamerican,Teacher,In,Language,School,With,Children

Can I work in France with UK TEFL teaching qualifications after Brexit?

Advice for foreign language teachers seeking employment in France after Brexit.

Help available for struggling self-employed workers in France

Three specific schemes launched for individuals running their own businesses who have run into difficulty

Struggle to find tradespeople for home repairs in France, survey finds

67% of respondents believe 'the government could implement more measures to improve the situation'

Self-employed in France can claim state benefits if business fails

Allocation des travailleurs indépendants applies if certain conditions are met

Increase in unpaid sick days proposed by French government

Plans are due to come into force in 2026

A couple take a photo on a boardwalk surrounded by boats

Are workplace affairs a sackable offence in France?

Two executives in the United States recently drew international media attention after being caught on a 'kiss cam' at a Coldplay concert

A woman bundled up against the cold, blowing her nose

Sick pay in France: what is the difference between an arrêt de travail and arrêt maladie?

Guide for people in jobs and those who are self-employed

Can I be salaried and self-employed at the same time in France?

Many people want to set up a business alongside an existing career

Is it difficult for self-employed workers to secure a mortgage from a French bank?

It's true that self-employment can be seen by banks as an additional risk factor

Change in VAT thresholds for self-employed workers in France delayed

Lack of unanimous decision on matter is behind the delay, says Finance Minister. It may now not be reviewed until the next 2026 budget debate

Self-employed workers in France must switch to electronic billing - what will it cost?

Union leaders warn sector is ‘in jeopardy’ over new rules

Remote working is ‘here to stay’ in France

Télétravail is deeply rooted in the workplace having become widespread during the Covid-19 pandemic

How can I get a Siret number in France?

All companies that operate in France must have one to issue invoices

Can I split my employment on a seasonal worker visa?

How to legally adjust your seasonal work pattern across different seasons with a single visa

How do writers set up a business in France?

Creative workers can benefit from a special social security regime

How France Travail can help you find employment

The government agency offers a range of assistance, including grants and mobility support

Explained: What does RTT mean in France?

Discover how 'Réduction du Temps de Travail' can enhance your work-life balance in France

Seasonal workers picking grapes in Meursault, France

Is seasonal work possible in France under the 90/180 days rule?

Only some sectors are permitted to hire people without a valid work visa

Does France have a 'digital nomad' visa?

Several countries have visas for people who work remotely for an employer abroad

French work office is too cold - is it grounds to work from home?

France’s labour laws require offices to be at a ‘suitable’ temperature

A view of a red beach chair on a calendar to show days off

How to maximise your time off in France this year

The calendar of public holidays makes 2025 a good year for those looking to make the most of holiday time, with a number of long weekends and opportunity to ‘bridge’ extra days

Anger over changes to VAT rates for self-employed people in new 2025 French budget

Business leaders and politicians warn prices will increase as a result

How French CVs differ from those in the UK or US

Length, photo, design - CVs have aligned in recent years but some key difference remain

Do you receive additional paid leave following a family death in France?

Additional ‘bereavement’ leave is available in some cases

Popular lunch voucher system to be revamped in France

Scheme faces significant changes amidst digital shift and market competition

Debate rages over freelance worker status in France's hospitality sector

Covid led to many former salaried staff switching to freelance roles

Nine ways a French job centre can help jobseekers - and employers

From CV advice to language lessons the new France Travail is gearing up to increase employment

Can my French employer insist I take my holiday in the summer?

France has a culture of July and August summer breaks to coincide with school holidays

A woman working in an office during a heatwave. She is sitting in front of a fan.

French rules: can I work from home – or not at all – during heatwave?

Employers are obliged to make working conditions more comfortable during extreme temperatures

What is France’s workplace ‘right to disconnect’?

The precise ‘right’ can differ company by company

How to apply for seasonal work in France as a non-EU citizen

Job adverts, work permits and visas - we explain the rules for employees and employers

Workers in France to pay €100 towards previously free training

Reforms to the compte personnel de formation are expected to result in 20% of trainees abandoning their courses

Preserving tradition in every drop: The travelling French distiller

Meet the fourth-generation mobile Armagnac distiller and his 110-year-old copper still called Marie-Jeanne

How can I learn ‘business French’ to improve job prospects?

Many jobs require will require people to be fluent in the local language

What is a French CDII work contract?

These contracts are used in many sectors, giving temporary workers the same benefits as full-time employees

Must I take a course to become a tour guide in France?

There are various regulations dependent upon the precise role of a guide

Business accounting in France to get simpler for some

We explain the new income thresholds that trigger accounting and auditing obligations

New website offers free help to start your own business in France

Market research and an income guide are two ways the online platform can support entrepreneurs

Can I get seasonal work as a non-French person?

It is more difficult, but still possible, to work in certain sectors on a short-term basis

A view of a man sitting on a deckchair overlooking a view of high snowy mountains in France

French people still work less than other Europeans

France is second only to Finland as the EU country that works the fewest hours per year

Unlimited paid leave is good for business, says US firm in France

Employees who can take as much paid holiday as they like are more productive according to recruitment company

Free training for small business owners in France

The business skills courses are part of the government's Covid recovery plan. We look at what is on offer and who is eligible

Millions of workers in France can receive up to €600 a month in aid

The Prime d’activité is open to salaried staff and freelancers - we look at who is eligible and how to apply

Heatwave in France: Do I have to go into the office?

Your employer might encourage home-working, be more flexible with hours or halt physical labour during the hottest part of the day after making a risk assessment

French tax service Urssaf’s four-day week proves unpopular

Workers gave various reasons why they did not take up the offer at the tax collection service

New website for self-employed in France shows ‘no common sense’

Union des Auto-Entrepreneurs criticises online ‘one-stop shop’ and how some self-employed missed out on social charges help

Aim to boost apprenticeships key to France’s reindustrialisation

For years, academic success was seen as the way to a good job in France, but things are starting to change

Does homeworking change rules for frontier workers who live in France?

We look at the latest rules for French residents working for Swiss businesses

French training fund deemed success despite scams

Scam artists took advantage of a simplified system to trick workers in to paying for non-existent training schemes

Career change in France: I Googled ‘can animals talk to people?’

Colleen Kersey tells how a Reiki experience helped her discover she can talk to animals

Two million workers in France receive boost to driving tax allowance

Drivers can access this allowance – which has been increased by 10% – if they cover a certain distance in their vehicle for work each year

The jobs that French employers have the hardest time filling

Some posts are so difficult to fill that employers have been lowering their recruitment standards

Explainer: How France’s 35-hour week works in practice

We guide you through exceptions to the rule, overtime allowances and other legislation related to how much time you can spend on the job

How France learned to embrace the four-day week

Awareness of the environmental benefits is among the drivers for change, which could see one in 10 French firms adopt the practice in the next decade

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

‘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

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

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

Explained: Types of employment contracts in France

Job contracts in France come with the terms CDD or CDI, relating to different kinds of employment contract. We explain some of the key differences between them

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

Will my UK physiotherapist’s degree be recognised for work in France?

Post-Brexit it is often more difficult to use British qualifications but there are solutions

A photo of an older woman being helped up by another person

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

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

Will I lose my unemployment rights if I resign from my job in France?

As a general rule, you are not entitled to unemployment rights when resigning from a job - but there are exceptions

Can I sell my micro-entreprise business in France?

The micro-entrepreneur scheme allows you to set up as self-employed with simplified means of paying social security contributions and income tax

Who can I complain to about discrimination in France?

The state has set up several services that can help people who face abuse

Can my French employer make me wear a Covid facemask?

On a national level, it has not been obligatory to wear a mask in most indoor spaces since March 14

Different but skilled: French caterers empower staff with disabilities

‘Differences do not prevent us from having talent’, says Olivier Tran, who runs a training programme to give more opportunities to people with disabilities