Working in France
Are you looking for a job in France? Here you can find the latest news and need-to-know information on work culture, workers' rights, workplace etiquette and rules, trade unions, taxes, salaries, and more.
Self-employed in France? Here's where to get help
Being freelance, self-employed or operating as a sole trader in France can be complicated, with complex paperwork and a decent chunk of regulations to follow - but there are also plenty of free sources of help and advice out there.
Explained: Electronic billing for 'micro-entrepreneurs' in France
If you work in France under the 'micro-entrepreneur' (formerly auto entrepreneur) status, here's what you need to know about the new rules on electronic billing that come into effect from September 1st.
Electronic billing: Free services for freelancers and small businesses
It's now mandatory for all businesses and freelancers in France to be registered with one of the platforms approved and certified by the government for electronic billing - here's how to stay compliant without paying over the odds.
Electronic billing: What businesses and freelancers in France need to do by September 1st
If you are a freelancer, sole trader, contractor or small business owner in France you will know about ‘facturation électronique’ rules that come into effect from September 1st - here's what you need to do to prepare for it.
Explained: France’s Conseil de prud’hommes
It’s sometimes the butt of work-related jokes, but if you have a dispute with your employers in France, you might be glad you have recourse to the Conseil de prud’hommes.
How to plan your holidays - and 'ponts' - in France in 2026/27
As France heads back to work, many people will already be planning their next holiday. From school holidays to public holidays, here's how to maximise your time off.
The perks and benefits that employees in France enjoy
France has a bit of a reputation as a workers' paradise and while that is an exaggeration, there are still plenty of benefits that employees are entitled to.
Factcheck: Do French people really take off the entire month of August?
There is a common belief that French people take off the entire month of August, much to the envy of workers in other countries. But is that truly the case?
Can your boss ban you from working remotely from France?
If you're planning on combining a holiday in France with a couple of days of work this summer, you may need to check whether your company allows this.
Right to disconnect: Can your French boss legally contact you over the holidays?
France's 'right to disconnect' is often cited as an example of the country's strict workplace culture - but in reality the law is more complicated than it first appears.
Digital nomads: French government clarifies rules on remote working
The issue of foreigners working remotely in France while on a 'visitor' visa has long been a confusing grey area - but now the French government has clarified to parliament, and to The Local, who can work on this status.
Working in France: How to get your travel expenses reimbursed
One of the perks of being an employee in France is that your employer must help you with the cost of commuting - here's how it works.
EXPLAINED: New electronic billing for self-employed workers in France
If you are a freelancer, sole trader or small business owner in France you may have already begun to receive emails about 'facturation électronique' - here's what the new electronic billing system means.
French government backtracks on proposed new law for working on May 1st
The French government has put on hold the parliamentary process for a proposed law that would have allowed certain job sectors to operate on May 1st.
EXPLAINED: France’s proposed new law for working on May 1st
French MPs will this week debate a bill that would allow some people to work on May 1st - the public holiday marking International Workers' Day. However, it's already proving controversial.
Could you really be better off living on benefits in France than working?
France’s social benefits system is pretty generous, but — as is sometimes claimed by politicians to the right of the spectrum, particularly around election time — is ‘sponging off the state’ more lucrative than working for a living?
Fury over French rail operator's dress code ‘straight out of 1960s’
French rail unions have demanded the withdrawal of a dress code advising SNCF staff how to dress with 'French elegance' according to their body shape.
France updates website that helps you calculate your French pension
France's useful online simulator which helps workers accurately plan for their retirement has been updated to take into account the suspension of the flagship pension reform.
Chômage: What are your obligations if you are unemployed in France?
If you're out of work in France, you can receive benefits and support through France Travail (formerly known as Pôle emploi) - but these days the money comes with strict conditions attached.
Guide: How to register with France Travail if you lose your job
Losing your job may trigger a whole lot of stress, including the complicated process of registering with the unemployment office - here's our guide to France Travail (formerly Pôle emploi).
Micro-entrepreneurs: Vocab guide for being self-employed in France
France's micro-entrepreneur status (formerly known as auto-entrepreneur) is for people starting out a business in a small way or operating as a freelancer - setting it up can be quite complicated, and involves some technical vocabulary.
COMPARE: Where in France do people get paid the most?
The salary you can earn in France differs greatly depending on where you live in the country, new figures reveal.
VAT reforms in France axed after government backtrack
France's public accounts minister has confirmed that proposed VAT changes have been scrapped, much to the relief of many freelancers and small-businesses.