As an HR professional with over 15 years advising French businesses, I've seen confusion between working days (jours ouvrés) and business days (jours ouvrables) lead to errors in leave calculations, project timelines, and deliveries. Working days typically span Monday to Saturday, excluding Sundays and holidays, while business days are Monday to Friday. This distinction is crucial for accurate planning. Let's break it down.
Working days (jours ouvrés) include all days of the week except Sundays and public holidays—the days legally permitted for work. A standard week has 6 working days: Monday through Saturday.
Business days (jours ouvrables) are the days businesses typically operate: Monday through Friday, excluding public holidays. A week thus has 5 business days, as most companies close on Saturdays, even if it's a working day.
The primary distinction affects paid leave, sick days, and absences. Working days are often used for leave calculations—6 days per week of vacation. Some companies use business days (5 per week) instead; check your collective agreement for specifics.
Clarifying working vs. business days provides essential insights into:
For instance, a 3-business-day service excludes Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. Consider La Poste: branches open Monday to Saturday (6 working days), but delivery times are in working days. A Friday morning package with 2-working-day delivery arrives Monday.
France has 11 public holidays per Labor Code Article L3133-13:
For 2021 (365 days), excluding 4 weekend holidays:
Accountants rely on annual calendars for precise breakdowns.
Certain sectors operate on holidays. Employees receive regular pay plus a 50% premium or equivalent rest time. Review your employment contract and collective agreement for details.
