Introduction
Some foreign investors are reluctant to set-up a business in France. And the reason is fairly simple.
They often believe wrongly that French employees only work 35 hours in a week, never starting before 10 AM, and taking a 2-hour lunch break every day.
Such a preconception is false and working time in France is quite flexible:
- First, employees can work overtime.
- Secondly, working hours can be adjusted over a year and even up to three years, which allows companies to adapt working time to peaks and lows in activity.
- Thirdly, working time can be calculated in days over the year, which avoids to pay overtime.
- Finally, the applicable industry-wide agreement can give leverage and flexibility in the organization of working time.
