FRANCE PEO & EOR
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DID YOU KNOW
- France is known for its unique foods. In fact, the nation eats 25,000 tons of snails every year!
- The home of many tourist hotspots, it may not come as a surprise that France is the most visited country in the world. Amassing 89 million tourists every year.
- Arts are an integral part of French culture, and the nation has won the most Nobel prizes for its literature.
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FRANCE EOR Services
A fantastic economy with a perfect lifestyle
The home of iconic landmarks, groundbreaking art and literature, great food, ski resorts, and beautiful scenery, there truly is something for everyone to enjoy in France.
Expats and foreign businesses are continuously drawn to France on account of its fantastic economy and lifestyle. Also, as of 2015, setting up a business in France has become easier than ever.
Setting up a business in France is cheaper, quicker, and less laborious than most other nations in the G20 (according to the EY G20 Entrepreneurship Barometer). Partnering with a France PEO partner like Gibson Watts Global can also provide full support every step of the way, allowing foreign businesses to get set up in France without a local entity in the country.
Working in FRANCE
Financial Year Dates
In France, the financial year typically runs from 1st January to 31st December each year.
Minimum Wage
The current minimum wage, known as the “salaire minimum interprofessionnel de croissance” (SMIC) in France, is €11.27 per hour (as of 2024), with monthly earnings for a full-time position set at €1,709.28 gross.
Contract Information
Employment contract details: Contracts must be written in French to be legally valid. Bilingual wording is permitted if requested by the employee. Contracts must always be in writing and specify the type of employment agreed, trial period, restrictive covenants, bonuses, and notice.
Contract backdating: Contracts must be signed 7 days before starting work. No backdating is possible.
Fixed-term contracts: Fixed-term contracts are permitted in limited circumstances and can be renewed twice without exceeding a total maximum period of 18 months. The use of a fixed term contract may require justification.
Probation Periods: Probation varies according to the position of the employee. Probation for blue-collar employees can be maximum two months; three months for supervisors, technicians, and cadres.
Probation periods are renewable once for two or three months, provided it is included in the contract.
Fixed-term contracts can also include a probationary period, but this may not exceed a day per week of the contract duration and must be limited to two weeks in case of a contract lasting six months or less; and up to one month for contracts lasting more than six months.
Standard working hours
In France, the standard work week is 35 hours, typically distributed across five days, though some sectors may have slightly different arrangements. Overtime can be applied for hours worked beyond this threshold. The working hours usually span from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, with a 1-hour lunch break, depending on the company’s policies.
Overtime
Overtime in France is typically paid at 125% of the standard hourly rate for the first 8 hours beyond the standard 35-hour week, and 150% for any hours worked beyond that. Overtime is subject to limits and must be in accordance with the terms outlined in the employment contract or collective agreements.
Holiday Allowance
In France, employees are entitled to 30 days / 5 weeks of paid annual leave, and additional paid leave may be granted based on company policies or collective agreements. Additionally, public sector employees may receive additional vacation days.
Sick Leave
France offers statutory paid sick leave, typically after a 3-day waiting period. Employees can receive daily allowances from the Social Security system (Sécurité Sociale) based on their salary, provided they meet certain conditions. The amount of compensation varies depending on the length of employment and other factors.
Maternity & Paternity Leave
Maternity Leave: Female employees are entitled to 16 weeks of maternity leave, which is paid at a rate determined by the French Social Security system, covering the majority of their salary. To be eligible, the employee must have worked for the company for a minimum of 150 days.
Paternity Leave: Fathers in France are entitled to 25 days of paternity leave, paid by the Social Security system, in addition to the partner’s maternity leave.
Public Holiday
France observes 11 public holidays throughout the year:
- New Year’s Day
- Easter Monday
- Labour Day
- Victory Day
- Ascension Day
- Whit Monday
- Bastille Day
- Assumption of Mary
- All Saints’ Day
- Armistice Day
- Christmas Day
Social Contributions
Social security contributions in France are shared between the employer and the employee, and are based on gross salary:
| Employer | Employee |
Insurance and Family Allowances: | 13-15% (depending on salary level) | 0-0.75% |
Pension | 8-10% | 6-8% |
Unemployment: | 4-6% | 2.4% |
Income Tax
Income tax in France is progressive, with rates ranging from 0% to 45% based on income levels. France also imposes social charges on salaries, which can significantly increase the effective tax burden. Employees benefit from various tax credits and deductions, and businesses are required to withhold income tax directly from employees’ salaries.
Health Care
France has one of the best healthcare systems in the world, with public healthcare available to all legal residents through the Sécurité Sociale. Workers and employers contribute to the system through payroll deductions. Additional private health insurance (mutuelle) is also commonly taken out to cover supplementary healthcare costs. France’s public healthcare system is funded through employer and employee contributions, with most employees required to register for coverage.
Visas
France offers several types of work and residency visas, including:
- Work Visa: Issued to employees who have secured a job in France. Companies must sponsor the application.
- Self-Employment Visa: For individuals looking to start their own business in France.
- Residence Visa: For individuals who are not working but can demonstrate financial independence.
- Talent Passport Visa: A specific visa for highly skilled workers, artists, and professionals.
As an EOR provider, Gibson Watts Global can also provide guidance on this process. An EOR can provide a payroll solution in France, so that workers can easily set up in France and businesses can place workers in-country.
13th salary?
The 13th-month salary is a common practice in France, particularly in certain sectors or for unionized workers. Typically, it is paid at the end of the year, around Christmas time, and is equivalent to one month’s salary. Some companies also provide additional bonuses or 13th-month payments based on performance or company profits.
Cultural Information
French culture is renowned for its politeness and etiquette. Punctuality is uncommon in France, and it is considered customary to turn up to business meetings and social events 15 minutes late. Food, politics, and art are 3 common topics of conversation, but one should avoid discussing money.
Over half of France’s population align with the Roman Catholic Church, however a minority of these practice the religion.
Generally, expats arriving in France should learn a few French words and not assume that everyone will speak English.
Impacts from COVID-19
Compared to other European nations such as Germany and Italy, adoption of remote working in France has been relatively low. Despite this, advancements in French teleworking have been significant because of the pandemic.
France has also achieved high vaccination rates, with around 79% of the population being fully jabbed against COVID-19 (as of 2022).