Payroll in France runs in EUR on a monthly payroll cycle, typically paid at month end. cycle, with statutory employer contributions and no universal statutory 13th-month payment, though many collective agreements (conventions collectives) mandate one for specific sectors.. Gracemark operates it end-to-end, humans, not tickets.
Currency
EUR, Euro
Payroll cycle
Monthly payroll cycle, typically paid at month end.
Working week
The legal working week is 35 hours; hours worked beyond that are overtime, generally paid at 25% premium for the first 8 hours and 50% thereafter, subject to sector agreements [1](https://reunion.msa.fr/lfp/documents/98945/417452258/Dossier+Employeur_Fiche+3_Plafond%2C+Smic%2C+Minimum+Garanti+et+Assiette+de+cotisations_01012024.pdf/b901d4aa-4992-10e9-b5f4-fd08b75ef634?t=1731060253305).
Minimum wage
The SMIC gross monthly minimum wage was €1,766.92 (based on €11.65/hour, 151.67 hours/month) effective 1 January 2024 [1](https://reunion.msa.fr/lfp/documents/98945/417452258/Dossier+Employeur_Fiche+3_Plafond%2C+Smic%2C+Minimum+Garanti+et+Assiette+de+cotisations_01012024.pdf/b901d4aa-4992-10e9-b5f4-fd08b75ef634?t=1731060253305).
13th-month
No universal statutory 13th-month payment, though many collective agreements (conventions collectives) mandate one for specific sectors.
Employer cost
Total employer social contributions (health, family, pension, unemployment, work accident, other charges) commonly range from roughly 30-45% of gross salary depending on salary level and sector reductions [2](https://beta.legisocial.fr/reperes-sociaux/taux-cotisations-sociales-urssaf-2024.html).
Probation
Probation periods vary by employee category, generally 2 months for non-executives up to 4 months for executives (cadres), renewable once.
Notice period
Notice and severance depend on the applicable convention collective, tenure and grounds; statutory severance generally applies after 8 months of continuous service for dismissal not due to serious misconduct.
Two ways to run payroll in France
Own-entity payroll
For long-term presence in France. Gracemark manages statutory filings, pay runs, and year-end reporting under your entity, with a named operator on Western Europe time.
EOR-run payroll
No entity in France? Employ and pay talent under Gracemark's local infrastructure via EOR, onboard in 2 weeks (eor), no local incorporation.
Compliance essentials in France
35-hour week with RTT days for hours worked beyond it
Collective bargaining agreements (conventions collectives) set many terms
Among the highest employer social charges in Europe
Termination requires 'real and serious cause' plus process
Strong protections against contractor misclassification
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