Work-Life Balance: Rest Days in a "Contrat Forfait Jour"
In France, executives often have a specific type of employment contract known as a "contrat cadre forfait jour." This contract specifies a fixed number of working days per year, typically 218 days. But what does this mean in terms of rest days, and how does it compare to the standard paid leave days in French employment contracts?
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What is a "Contrat Cadre Forfait Jour"?
A "contrat cadre forfait jour" is a type of employment contract designed for executives. Unlike standard contracts that specify a fixed number of working hours per week, this contract defines a fixed number of working days per year. This type of contract is intended for executives who have significant autonomy and responsibility in their roles.
Calculating Rest Days in 2026
With a "forfait jours" contract of 218 working days per year, let's calculate the number of rest days excluding weekends, public holidays, and paid leave days.
Step 1: Determine the Total Number of Days in 2026
A standard year has 365 days.
Step 2: Subtract Weekends
In 2026, there are 104 weekends (52 weeks with 2 weekend days each: Saturday and Sunday).
Total days after subtracting weekends: 365 - 104 = 261 days
Step 3: Subtract Public Holidays on Weekdays
France has 11 public holidays. Assuming 2 fall on weekends (since there are 104 weekend days and 11 public holidays), there are 9 public holidays on weekdays.
Total days after subtracting public holidays on weekdays: 261 - 9 = 252 days
Step 4: Subtract Paid Leave Days
In France, employees typically receive 25 days of paid leave per year.
Total days after subtracting paid leave: 252 - 25 = 227 days
Step 5: Subtract Working Days as per the Contract
The contract specifies 218 working days per year.
Rest days: 227 - 218 = 9 days
So, an executive on this type of contract would have 9 rest days in 2026, excluding weekends, public holidays, and paid leave days.
Understanding Paid Leave Days
In a standard French employment contract, employees receive 25 days of paid leave per year, in addition to weekends and public holidays. These paid leave days are separate from any rest days calculated in a "forfait jours" contract.
Key Differences
1. Standard Contract:
25 days of paid leave per year
RTT days for overtime worked beyond the standard 35-hour workweek
Weekends and public holidays as non-working days
2. Forfait Jour Contract:
Fixed number of working days per year (e.g., 218 days)
Rest days excluding weekends, public holidays, and paid leave days (e.g., 9 days)
No RTT days
Legal Considerations
According to French labor law, executives on a "forfait jours" contract are entitled to a minimum number of rest days. Specifically, they must have at least 11 hours of rest per day and 35 consecutive hours of rest per week, which usually includes weekends. Additionally, they are entitled to the standard public holidays and vacation days as per French labor law.
Conclusion
In summary, an executive on a "contrat cadre forfait jour" with 218 working days per year is entitled to 9 rest days excluding weekends, public holidays, and paid leave days. These rest days are not the same as the standard paid leave days in regular employment contracts.