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Hours Worked Calculator in France

For those navigating the complexities of French labor law, Harvest provides a reliable way to track hours and manage overtime accurately, ensuring compliance and efficiency.

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How many hours did you work this week?

Enter your clock-in and clock-out times for each day. The calculator handles breaks, overtime, and weekly totals automatically.

Day Clock In Clock Out Break Hours
Total hours this week 0h
Regular hours (≤40) 0h
Overtime hours 0h
Average hours/day 0h
Total break time 0h

Track time automatically with Harvest

Walk through the entire flow below. Start a timer, check your reports, and create a real invoice — all in three clicks.

Go ahead — start tracking!

One click and you're timing. Try it right here: start a timer, add an entry, edit the details. This is exactly how it feels in Harvest.

  • One-click timer from browser, desktop & mobile
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  • Duration or start/end — your call
  • Day, week & calendar views to stay on top of it all
  • Friendly reminders so no hour gets left behind
Acme Corp
Website Redesign
Homepage layout revisions
1:24:09
Content Strategy
Blog calendar planning
1:30:00
SEO Audit
Technical audit report
0:45:00
Brand Guidelines
Color system documentation
2:15:00
Logo Concepts
Initial sketches round 1
1:00:00
Today's total 6:54:09

Understanding the French 35-Hour Workweek

The 35-hour workweek is a cornerstone of French labor law, established under the "Loi Aubry" in 2000. This regulation mandates that the standard workweek in France should not exceed 35 hours, typically spread over five days. This foundational rule aims to promote work-life balance and reduce unemployment by encouraging job sharing. However, these standard hours serve as a threshold, beyond which overtime compensation kicks in.

For employees, exceeding the 35-hour mark requires overtime pay. Any hours worked past this limit are considered overtime and must be compensated at statutory rates. Understanding the nuances of this regulation is crucial for both employers and employees to ensure compliance and fair compensation.

Navigating Overtime in France

Overtime in France is defined as any hours worked beyond the standard 35-hour workweek. Employers must compensate these additional hours at increased rates, which are regulated by law. The first eight hours of overtime, from the 36th to the 43rd hour, are compensated at 125% of the regular hourly wage, while hours beyond this are paid at 150%.

There is an annual overtime quota of 220 hours per employee. Exceeding this requires employers to provide compensatory rest, ensuring that employees do not overextend themselves beyond legal limits. Harvest, although not specifically tailored to French labor laws, offers robust time tracking features that can help businesses efficiently manage and record overtime hours.

Rest, Breaks, and Leave: Employee Well-being

Ensuring adequate rest and breaks is a fundamental aspect of French labor regulations. Employees are entitled to a minimum daily rest period of 11 consecutive hours, and a weekly rest period of 35 consecutive hours. These regulations ensure workers have sufficient time to recover between shifts, promoting their health and productivity.

Additionally, employees must receive a meal break of at least 20 minutes if they work for more than six hours in a day. This is complemented by paid annual leave, accruing at a rate of 2.5 days per month, culminating in 30 "workable" days annually. The Réduction du Temps de Travail (RTT) days provide further flexibility, allowing employees to accumulate additional rest days when they work over 35 hours a week.

Special Cases and Considerations in French Labor Law

French labor laws encompass a range of special cases and considerations. Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs) can alter standard working conditions, including overtime rates and rest periods, but cannot reduce statutory minimums. For part-time employees, the standard is fewer than 35 hours per week, with a legal minimum of 24 hours, although exceptions exist.

Night work, defined as work performed between 9 PM and 6 AM, is subject to specific restrictions and often includes additional compensation. Employees in managerial roles, particularly those on "forfait jours" contracts, have alternative arrangements that focus on days worked rather than hours, providing flexibility while ensuring legal compliance. Accurate time tracking, facilitated by tools like Harvest, is essential for adhering to these complex regulations.

Efficiently Track Hours with Harvest

See how Harvest simplifies time tracking and overtime calculations, tailored to French labor laws, for accurate work hour management.

Harvest time tracking dashboard for calculating hours worked in France

Hours Worked Calculator in France FAQs

  • In France, the standard legal workweek is set at 35 hours, as established by the "Loi Aubry". This regulation aims to balance work and personal life. Exceeding this threshold requires overtime compensation.

  • Overtime hours in France are any hours worked beyond the standard 35-hour workweek. The first 8 hours of overtime are paid at 125%, and any subsequent hours at 150%. Accurate tracking is essential for compliance.

  • Employees in France must receive a minimum of 11 consecutive hours of daily rest and 35 hours of weekly rest. These rules ensure workers have adequate recovery time between shifts.

  • Public holidays in France do not automatically count as days off unless specified by a collective agreement. May 1st is a mandatory paid holiday for all employees.

  • Réduction du Temps de Travail (RTT) days are additional rest days accrued by employees working over 35 hours per week, intended to compensate for extended work hours without direct overtime pay.

  • Harvest provides flexible time tracking that helps manage both regular and overtime hours, ensuring compliance with French labor laws. Its integration capabilities streamline the monitoring process.

  • Yes, Harvest supports time tracking for both freelancers and employees. It offers flexible project types that cater to diverse working arrangements, facilitating precise time management.