Paid Leave and Working Time in France: What You Need to Know

The three types of work arrangements

French labor law recognizes several types of employment contracts, each with its own approach for time tracking and benefits.RTT days are additional rest days on top of the standard paid time off (30 days total, consisting of 25 weekdays and five Saturdays). The number of RTT days varies each year, around 10 on average, and they must be used within the calendar year (January to December). Unused RTT days can’t be carried over to the following year

1. Fixed hours between 35–39 hours per week

Employees with this type of schedule work a set number of hours each week — typically between 35 and 39 hours. For example, a standard schedule might be Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., with a one-hour lunch break (37 hours total).

Any hours above 35 are listed on the payslip as heures supplémentaires (overtime hours).

Instead of receiving extra pay for those hours, employees earn RTT days (extra rest days).

The exact weekly hours (e.g., 36, 37, 38, or 39) must be clearly stated in the contract.

2. Fixed hours up to 35 hours per week

In this case, the employee works up to 35 hours weekly — for example, Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with a one-hour lunch break.

These employees do not receive RTT days.

They are eligible for paid overtime in line with French labor regulations.

Employers should report any overtime worked to Plane so it’s properly recorded.

3. Flexible schedule (forfait jours scheme)

This schedule is based on the number of days worked annually, rather than hours, typically 218 days per year.

Daily hours aren’t tracked.

Employees under this scheme are not eligible for paid overtime.

They do, however, receive RTT days as part of their benefits.

Recording working hours and time off

To stay compliant with French labor laws, it’s important for employees and managers to record both working hours and leave accurately.

Employees with fixed-hour schedules should record their actual working hours each day to ensure compliance with their contracted schedule (and to identify any overtime where applicable).

Employees under the forfait jours scheme should record the number of days worked rather than hours, in line with the annual 218-day limit.

When booking time off, employees should clearly indicate whether they are using a regular PTO day or an RTT day, as these are tracked separately.

Accurate time and leave tracking helps ensure payroll and leave balances remain correct, and that all employees receive the rest time they’re entitled to.

Paid leave and other benefits

Collective bargaining agreement (CBA)

All Plane employees in France are covered by the Syntec Collective Bargaining Agreement (Convention collective – Fédération Syntec), which provides additional protections and benefits beyond the statutory minimums.

Vacation bonus (prime de vacances)

Each July, employees receive a mandatory vacation bonus equal to 10% of their paid leave accrual, or roughly 1% of annual salary (including commissions).

Paid time off (PTO)

French law grants 30 days of paid leave per year (25 weekdays plus five Saturdays).

PTO accrues monthly, based on the period from June to May.

Employees have an additional year to use their accrued days.

If unused, PTO carries over automatically and must be paid out upon termination.

Please note that Plane employees work Monday to Friday. However, when it comes to paid leave in France, Monday to Saturday are counted as ouvrable (workable), or “working days.” Because French law grants 25 weekdays plus five Saturdays off per year, this means that, for Plane employees, taking a Friday off often means a Saturday is also deducted, up to five times per year.To ensure accuracy, employees should regularly report PTO balances to Plane, allowing us to maintain precise leave records and compliance with French labor requirements.

Summary

In France, balancing work and rest is part of the culture and the law. Whether employees are on a fixed or flexible schedule, Plane ensures each arrangement complies with local standards while giving teams the clarity they need to plan their time off confidently.Questions? Check out these additional resources:

How to request time off

Time tracking guidelines by country

Hiring guide for France