Working in France - Annual Leave

Workers are then entitled to two-and-a-half working days’ leave for each month worked, i.e. five weeks of paid leave per year worked. In principle, only periods actually worked are taken into account when determining the entitlement to paid leave. Periods of absence from work are not counted. However, certain periods are considered as valid periods of employment, such as annual leave the previous year, maternity leave, training leave, or time off sick if the collective agreement covers this.
Paid leave dates are decided by mutual agreement between the employer and the employee, or, failing that, by the employer.

Public Holidays

France has 10 public holidays: 

• New Year’s Day
• Easter Monday
• May Day
•  May (VE Day – End of the Second World War 1945)
• Ascension Thursday
• 14 July (Bastille Day)
• 15 August (Assumption)
• 1 November (All Saints)
• 11 November (End of the First World War in 1918)
• Christmas Day

Whit Monday is no longer a public holiday but a day of solidarity.

May Day is the only guaranteed paid holiday. The other public holidays are generally only paid if they fall on an ordinary working day.

Maternity/Paternity

In addition, workers are entitled to sick leave, maternity (or adoption) and paternity leave. After taking maternity leave, workers can ask to take parental leave or to work part-time so they can look after their child. French legislation also allows parents to take time off work to look after children who are disabled, have suffered an accident or are seriously ill.

Employees may also take a sabbatical of up to eleven months, individual training leave (‘CIF’), leave to set up a business, international solidarity leave, leave to look after a sick child or skills leave.
Eligibility for some of these types of leave may be conditional upon seniority in the company, or minimum contributions paid to the public social security scheme.

Text last edited on: 03/2007

Source: European Union
© European Communities, 1995-2007
Reproduction is authorised.