48 hours per week is the maximum allowed or on average 44 hours over 12 consecutive weeks. Hours are considered overtime above the 35 regular working hours. Breaks are a minimum of 20 mins every six hours with 11 hours rest between working days and 35 hours rest per working week.
Businesses in France are typically hierarchical and centralised. Decisions are made at the top of the company. The boss of the company will be authoritative. Professionalism is highly valued and is generally the key to acceptance by your French counterparts.
The French people are hardworking and dedicated, but that's not to say they don't know how to unwind. In fact, recreation and relaxation are just as vital to the French lifestyle as ambition and productivity.
The French working hours are usually 8 or 9 AM to 4 or 5 PM, with 1 hour of unpaid lunch break. This will, however, vary depending on the business and company agreements. The weekly working hours are 35 (7 hours a day, five days a week). Hours worked beyond this quota are compulsory paid as overtime.
The French are private people and have different rules of behaviour for people within their social circle and those who are not. Although the French are generally polite in all dealings, it is only with their close friends and family that they are free to be themselves.
French people tend not to visit unannounced or uninvited. To do so is considered rude. When invited to a dinner, it is common for guests to ask their hosts if they are required to bring something on the day.
Almost a quarter — 24 percent — of those employed in France are in a state of so-called hyperstress, defined as stress levels that endanger health, according to a study conducted by occupational health consulting firm Stimulus. Over half — 52 percent — of those surveyed reported high levels of anxiety.
French people also get five weeks minimum paid vacation time. Culturally they just have more respect for time off and don't talk about work constantly like many Americans.
People in Italy have the best work-life balance, according to the OECD. Only 3 percent of employees in the country work more than 50 hours a week. Denmark, Norway, Spain and the Netherlands are also ranked highly.
Without a doubt, the hardest part of learning French is the pronunciation. Written French and spoken French seem worlds apart at first, since there are a number of rules that dictate when certain letters are not pronounced, or words are suddenly squashed together.
The French tend to eat their largest meal in the middle of the day, rather than late at night, and theoretically could be burning those calories all day long, says Dr. Ben-Arie. “Maybe that makes them less hungry or less likely to snack the rest of the day,” he suggests.
Many find French hard to learn because of the complex grammar and linguistic nuances that don't exist in English, especially for those who have never studied another European language specifically Romance languages like Spanish or Portuguese. Spoken French can also be challenging!
The French are often self-motivated to be the best in their trade so expect respect for what they do, after which they are very much willing to serve you well. Tip: Don't expect American style smiles but do expect to be treated as an equal even if you are the client.
Contrary to national stereotypes, French workers are more productive than their German counterparts and only marginally less productive than American workers. Recently, the CEO of a US manufacturer commented that his company would not invest in a factory in France due to concerns over the productivity of local workers.
An 1814 law made it illegal to work on Sundays and on legal holidays, but this law fell into disuse during the time of the July Monarchy (1830) when Catholicism ceased to be France's official state religion. After 1830, a vast number of French workers had to be at their jobs every day, seven days a week.
French people love to debate, and sometimes it looks scary; friends turn on each other, they loudly disagree, insults are thrown… But it's all in good fun, actually. Debate is just a part of the French way of life. One might say we're better at arguing positions than actually act on them, but that's up to debate.
Viable reasons for termination in French employment law
In France, an employer that seeks to terminate an employee is required to show just cause—réelle et sérieuse—and adhere to dismissal procedures.
For Parisians eye contact is a personal matter, much like your choice of wine, or infidelity in relationships. As a general rule, you have to avoid looking strangers in the eye; it's slightly offensive.
Life isn't necessarily slower in France. Many people thrive on being busy and defining themselves by their careers. There's nothing wrong with that. Certain people who move abroad aren't going to find themselves slowing down and appreciating life more.
In 2022, the average salary in France is €2,340 net per month or €39,300 net per year. Due to the differences in the cost of living across different French cities, the average salary in Paris is €2,570 net per month, 9.8% higher than the national average.
A whopping 91 percent said that life in France was better than in their home country, with work-life balance, great public services and magnificent culinary offerings among the reasons why.
It's not a sign of unfriendliness but simply a different way of conducting interactions. French people aren't unhappy or rude, they simply smile a little bit less than Americans tend to expect. In fact, Americans value smiles a lot more than many cultures.
Embrace the French je ne sais quoi when it comes to apparel. Skip the baseball caps, white socks, sneakers, large colorful backpacks, and fanny packs. Instead, opt for dark skinny jeans, plain shirts without logos, and leather shoes.