How is the work culture in France?

There is very much a ‘work hard’ ethos across businesses in France. The usual day is from about 9am to 6pm, with a long lunch of anything up to two hours. However, there are favourable employment laws to restrict working hours, which is one of the reasons that France is considered a good place to work.

How many hours do the French work?

Working hours are generally Monday to Friday from 8am or 9am to 12:00/12:30 and then from 14:00/14:30 to 18:00. However, as always, it depends where the organization is located, for example the long lunch break is unusual in Paris and other bigger cities.

How many days a week do French work?

The average working week in France is 39 hours – the equivalent of a 9-5 day for five days. Of the workers who are covered by the 35-hour week, most work 39 hours and then take the extra hours in time in lieu, or réductions de temps du travail known as RTT days, which can be added on to annual holiday entitlement.

How long do French work a day?

Normal Work Hours in Paris The normal workday for an office worker in France starts anywhere from 8 – 9:30 am. And he/she usually doesn’t leave until 6:30-7:00 pm. Even if we count from 8:30 am – 6:30 pm, that is 10 hours per day or 50 hours a week.

Which country has the least working hours?

The front runners for lowest average weekly work hours are the Netherlands with 27 hours, and France with 30 hours. In a 2011 report of 26 OECD countries, Germany had the lowest average working hours per week at 25.6 hours.

What time does work end in France?

The working day depends on the company, its sector, corporate culture, size and location in France. Working hours are generally from 8:30-9:30 to 17:30-19:00. There is usually an hour for lunch, but there is a trend to taking less lunch and finishing earlier.

Is it illegal to send emails after work hours in France?

In France, if you’re a company of 50 employees or more, you cannot email an employee after typical work hours. The labor law amendment has come about because studies show that in the digital age, it’s increasingly difficult for people to distance themselves from the workplace during their off hours.

What do the French do with their leisure time?

Although the French have recently developed a taste for a new range of sporting activities, such as mountain biking, cross-country skiing, and rock climbing, the most common forms of recreation in France seem to be nonphysical or relatively sedentary—talking, reading, eating, going to the cinema, and so on.