Workplace culture in France

Hierarchy in France is clearer than in northern European countries: the manager (supérieur hiérarchique) takes decisions and his role is respected, and he may be addressed with vous and titles in traditional companies and with tu in modern ones.

• The French value competence, education (the elite schools grandes écoles) and qualifications, and there is a culture of le réseau (the network of relationships) in hiring and promotion.
• Participation in debate goes beyond merely carrying out instructions: you are expected to express your opinion with argument, but the final decision is the manager's.
• Do not bypass your direct manager without telling him.
• And professionalism is measured by quality, punctuality and organisation.
• And respect colleagues of greater seniority.
• And in the public sector hierarchy is stricter and procedures more.
• And relationships between colleagues are friendly but the separation between professional and private life is clear, so exchanging many personal details is not expected at first.

Punctuality is required at work: arrive minutes before work or the meeting starts, since repeated lateness leaves a bad impression.

• But meeting times may slip five to ten minutes sometimes.
• Meetings (réunions) are an opportunity to discuss ideas freely, and may be long, and an ordre du jour, agenda, is presented and a compte rendu, minutes, is recorded.
• You are expected to speak clearly and express your objection with tact, and it may end with no immediate decision.
• Ask for a summary by email.
• And calls and email for official matters, Teams and Slack for the flexible, and WhatsApp between close colleagues.
• A reply to email outside working hours and holidays is not expected thanks to the droit à la déconnexion.
• And deadlines (échéances) are respected, and if you cannot meet one inform early.
• And in presentations logical organisation and analysis are valued.

Lunch (déjeuner) is fundamental: a full hour usually between twelve and two, and many employees have a full meal in a canteen (restaurant d'entreprise) or a restaurant with tickets restaurant or from home, and it is a social time for talking not working, so a meeting is often not held in it. Do not always eat in front of your computer alone lest you seem isolated.

• A coffee break pause café is set in the morning and afternoon for talking.
• And a pot (a drink) is held on occasions such as birthdays, promotions and departures, and you may be invited, and you can join with a non-alcoholic drink and it is accepted without embarrassment.
• And CSE trips and birthday gifts may be organised.
• And conversation about food, holidays, culture and family is acceptable, and deep financial, political and religious questions are avoided.
• And greeting is exchanged by handshake or la bise depending on the company.

The legal duration is 35 hours a week, but managers (cadres) may work more under the forfait jours system (218 days a year) in exchange for RTT days.

• Usual working hours are nine to half past five, with flexibility sometimes.
• And the employee has 5 weeks of annual leave (congés payés) in addition to RTT days and the eleven public holidays.
• August is a collective holiday month: offices, factories and shops close for two weeks to a month, so progress slows and following up procedures is hard, so do not postpone important matters to mid-August.
• And leave is requested in advance from the manager and coordinated with colleagues, and respected so you are usually not contacted.
• And télétravail (working from home) is available for one to three days a week in many companies.
• And for parental and sick leave and sick-child days there are rights.
• And balance between professional and private life is a value, so excessive overwork is not encouraged.

Unions have a prominent role (CGT, CFDT, FO, CFE-CGC, UNSA and Solidaires), and negotiate collective agreements, and the employee has the right to join them and to strike, and the CSE represents employees in companies.

• The law bans discrimination and harassment because of origin, religion, sex, age, disability, pregnancy and sexual orientation, and requires equal pay between the sexes (index égalité).
• Secularism (laïcité) restricts showing religious symbols in the public sector, and in the private sector the employer may impose neutralité under specific conditions, so ask and understand.
• For success: learn good French (spelling matters), greet everyone, build relationships through lunch and coffee, express your opinion with argument, keep to appointments, organise your work, cooperate with your team, and request training (formation) via the CPF.
• And know your rights via the union and the Inspection du travail.
• And report harassment or discrimination.
• And build your network on LinkedIn and in professional associations.

What is the legal weekly working time?