Work

MPs reject plan to extend VAT to more self-employed workers in France

Vote reverses proposal to lower exemption thresholds for micro-entrepreneurs

Is it possible to be salaried and self-employed at the same time in France?

Anyone wishing to set up a micro-entreprise should check whether their type of business is eligible

'You don't have to be a big guy to do it', says Brit who led France's dry stone wall renaissance

Cathie O'Neill, speaks about her love for the craft, its links with the UK, and how it has evolved in France

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Anti-fraud inspections lead to record repayments in France

Builders were found to be the worst offenders when it comes to social security fraud, as France intensifies inspections

'We founded a musical theatre for young people in France'

Juliana Rambaldi, 60, and her husband Victor Benedetti, 56, are both professional classical singers. They moved from Seattle with their two children in 2011 intending only to stay for a year…

Is it difficult for self-employed workers to secure a mortgage from a French bank?

It's true that self-employment can be seen by banks as an additional risk factor

Career change in France: from plastics to creative recycling

Bob Hope explains his decision to leave a job in the chemicals industry to breathe new life into everyday objects

Change in VAT thresholds for self-employed workers in France delayed

Lack of unanimous decision on matter is behind the delay, says Finance Minister. It may now not be reviewed until the next 2026 budget debate

Guesthouse owners face closure threat in France

New tax and energy rules could devastate rural tourism, warn B&B owners

Self-employed workers in France must switch to electronic billing - what will it cost?

Union leaders warn sector is ‘in jeopardy’ over new rules

Remote working is ‘here to stay’ in France

Télétravail is deeply rooted in the workplace having become widespread during the Covid-19 pandemic

How I became a beautician after moving to France

When Teri Fox, 55, relocated in 2007, she mastered lots of new skills including fitness and aesthetics courses, as well as managing beauty salons – before going on to open her own

Map: Unemployment rate in every department in France

Surprisingly the second lowest rate, after Paris, is in Occitanie, the latest data shows

How can I get a Siret number in France?

All companies that operate in France must have one to issue invoices

How France Travail can help you find employment

The government agency offers a range of assistance, including grants and mobility support

French work office is too cold - is it grounds to work from home?

France’s labour laws require offices to be at a ‘suitable’ temperature

How to maximise your time off in France this year

The calendar of public holidays makes 2025 a good year for those looking to make the most of holiday time, with a number of long weekends and opportunity to ‘bridge’ extra days

Anger over changes to VAT rates for self-employed people in new 2025 French budget

Business leaders and politicians warn prices will increase as a result

How French CVs differ from those in the UK or US

Length, photo, design - CVs have aligned in recent years but some key difference remain

Why employees in France are likely to receive less money in January

Three changes are expected to make a dent in the usual level of net pay

Ministers propose people work seven hours unpaid to clear French deficit

The measure would fund the Social security debt, ministers say, but criticism has been strong

The new tougher rules for claiming RSA low-income aid in France

Recipients of the benefit now have to draw up a ‘commitment contract’

VAT, small firms, workers, education: Changes in France in 2025

We take a look at the new VAT thresholds, social charges, and profit-sharing mandates for businesses, plus school reforms and changes to higher education

Do you receive additional paid leave following a family death in France?

Additional ‘bereavement’ leave is available in some cases

Why the removal of a bank holiday in France is under debate - and which

Right-wing senators claim it will raise over €2 billion for social security fund

Popular lunch voucher system to be revamped in France

Scheme faces significant changes amidst digital shift and market competition

Debate rages over freelance worker status in France's hospitality sector

Covid led to many former salaried staff switching to freelance roles

Former French minister calls for end to 35-hour week - but does it exist?

There are many misconceptions about the world of work in France

Can my French employer insist I take my holiday in the summer?

France has a culture of July and August summer breaks to coincide with school holidays

French rules: can I work from home – or not at all – during heatwave?

Employers are obliged to make working conditions more comfortable during extreme temperatures

What is France’s workplace ‘right to disconnect’?

The precise ‘right’ can differ company by company

Reform to tighten France’s unemployment rules suspended after election

The controversial changes included cutting the maximum time that most people can claim benefits from 18 to 15 months

France to tighten rules for unemployment benefit: what is changing?

People will have to work longer to qualify

Row over France-Switzerland cross border workers’ unemployment benefit

The current system leaves France hundreds of millions of euros out of pocket each year, an MP says

French woman finds job by strapping CV to back - and going for a run

With just one run, her novel marketing strategy was seen 250,000 times on social media, been the subject of news articles and resulted in ten interviews

How to apply for seasonal work in France as a non-EU citizen

Job adverts, work permits and visas - we explain the rules for employees and employers

Workers in France to pay €100 towards previously free training

Reforms to the compte personnel de formation are expected to result in 20% of trainees abandoning their courses

Preserving tradition in every drop: The travelling French distiller

Meet the fourth-generation mobile Armagnac distiller and his 110-year-old copper still called Marie-Jeanne

Four-day week for divorced parents under review, says French PM

The idea could apply to parents who share custody of children

French MPs to debate ‘discrimination based on hair colour and style’

France is lagging behind North America on the issue, says MP

How can I learn ‘business French’ to improve job prospects?

Many jobs require will require people to be fluent in the local language

Paris homeworker injured by her ironing board claims work accident

Court hears the woman broke her toes when the board fell on them as she opened a cupboard

Jobs in France: These key sectors are actively recruiting

Geographical differences also shown in new report

Paris worker sacked for not being ‘fun enough’ wins €500,000 payout

The company claimed the worker never went to team drinks and was ‘brittle and demotivating’ to staff

What is a French CDII work contract?

These contracts are used in many sectors, giving temporary workers the same benefits as full-time employees

How to have 16 consecutive days off work in France this May

Taking just a few days of annual leave could see you have an extended holiday

Must I take a course to become a tour guide in France?

There are various regulations dependent upon the precise role of a guide

French crafts in focus: Chaudronnier

Metalworker Jean-Louis Martini specialises in building and fixing vehicles, particularly motorcycle parts

Business accounting in France to get simpler for some

We explain the new income thresholds that trigger accounting and auditing obligations

New website offers free help to start your own business in France

Market research and an income guide are two ways the online platform can support entrepreneurs

Can I get seasonal work as a non-French person?

It is more difficult, but still possible, to work in certain sectors on a short-term basis

French people still work less than other Europeans

France is second only to Finland as the EU country that works the fewest hours per year

Unlimited paid leave is good for business, says US firm in France

Employees who can take as much paid holiday as they like are more productive according to recruitment company

Free training for small business owners in France

The business skills courses are part of the government's Covid recovery plan. We look at what is on offer and who is eligible

Workers in France can now earn holiday days during sick leave

Court rules that right is retroactive, leaving employers concerned over a flurry of potential claims

EU plans to recruit more external workers to fill skill shortages

It coincides with a report which showed that France is experiencing major skills shortages across a range of key sectors

Millions of workers in France can receive up to €600 a month in aid

The Prime d’activité is open to salaried staff and freelancers - we look at who is eligible and how to apply

Heatwave in France: Do I have to go into the office?

Your employer might encourage home-working, be more flexible with hours or halt physical labour during the hottest part of the day after making a risk assessment

French tax service Urssaf’s four-day week proves unpopular

Workers gave various reasons why they did not take up the offer at the tax collection service

New website for self-employed in France shows ‘no common sense’

Union des Auto-Entrepreneurs criticises online ‘one-stop shop’ and how some self-employed missed out on social charges help

Aim to boost apprenticeships key to France’s reindustrialisation

For years, academic success was seen as the way to a good job in France, but things are starting to change

Does homeworking change rules for frontier workers who live in France?

We look at the latest rules for French residents working for Swiss businesses

Macron expresses shock over wage gaps at France’s biggest firms

One CEO earned 1,484 times their company’s average wage in 2021, according to Oxfam

French training fund deemed success despite scams

Scam artists took advantage of a simplified system to trick workers in to paying for non-existent training schemes

Career change in France: I Googled ‘can animals talk to people?’

Colleen Kersey tells how a Reiki experience helped her discover she can talk to animals

Two million workers in France receive boost to driving tax allowance

Drivers can access this allowance – which has been increased by 10% – if they cover a certain distance in their vehicle for work each year

Three women on how they forged their own French lives in Dordogne

We hear how the women broke the expatriate mould to lead independent lives in their adopted country

The jobs that French employers have the hardest time filling

Some posts are so difficult to fill that employers have been lowering their recruitment standards

Explainer: How France’s 35-hour week works in practice

We guide you through exceptions to the rule, overtime allowances and other legislation related to how much time you can spend on the job

Immersion in French language is stressful but leads to huge confidence

We speak to two people who have thrown themselves in at the deep end to improve their linguistic skills

French retirement debate: your experiences of working in your 70s

Readers who worked on for many years past the standard retirement age - some even into their late 80s - share their thoughts

How France learned to embrace the four-day week

Awareness of the environmental benefits is among the drivers for change, which could see one in 10 French firms adopt the practice in the next decade

How death benefits work for family of self-employed workers in France

We explain what a typical lump sum payout might amount to, as well as what happens in the case of salaried people and civil servants, and how to claim

Website lists all strikes taking place in France

Cestlagreve shows ongoing and future strike dates, and users can search by region

Hiring UK staff for French chalet work ‘very complicated’ post-Brexit

It is easier and cheaper to recruit from Australia and New Zealand, says business owner in the Alps