In both large companies and small businesses, overtime is a regular part of many employees’ work schedules. If you are responsible for tracking and calculating these hours, understanding the rules and processes is essential. To avoid calculation errors, many companies now use overtime management software, which simplifies this process and ensures compliance.
Overtime refers to working hours beyond the legal or contractual limit. It applies only to full-time employees.
For part-time employees, any extra hours worked are called additional hours, which follow a different set of rules. In companies with a standard workweek above the legal 35 hours, the contract or collective agreement defines the threshold for overtime.
For full-time employees, the legal weekly working time in France is 35 hours. This can be modified by collective agreements or sector-specific arrangements. Overtime starts from the first hour worked beyond the agreed weekly hours.
Some sectors, such as healthcare or transport, may have specific overtime rules set by collective agreements.
Overtime work is usually requested by the employer or a line manager. However, in certain cases, employees may work overtime on their own initiative if their workload requires it and the employer does not take steps to reduce it.
There are strict limits to respect:
To calculate overtime, a reliable time tracking system is essential. The main steps are:
Overtime management software automates this process, reducing human errors and providing dashboards to monitor overtime trends over time. This helps to anticipate staffing needs and prevent excessive overtime.
Overtime pay is higher than standard pay. In France, legal rates include:
These hours must appear separately on the employee’s payslip, with different lines showing each rate category.
When compensatory rest is granted instead of payment, this rest is calculated based on the overtime rate:
Compensatory rest can be either full (replacing pay entirely) or partial (combining rest with partial payment). This system helps balance workload and employee well-being while controlling costs for the company.
Specific rules for compensatory rest are usually set by collective agreements or internal company policies, depending on the sector.
For companies operating at night, night overtime must also be tracked. In France, night work generally refers to shifts between 9 pm and 6 am. Employees working at night may receive specific compensation according to collective agreements.
In some cases, night work allowances are paid separately. These amounts vary depending on sector agreements or internal policies.
Managing overtime manually can quickly become complex, especially in companies with many employees or irregular schedules. Using dedicated overtime management software helps prevent errors and ensures legal compliance.
These tools automatically track hours, apply correct overtime rates, and update payslips. They also improve transparency by allowing employees to view their worked hours and overtime compensation directly.
For employers, such tools save time and reduce administrative workload, ensuring clear communication and fair treatment for all employees.
