> Scope: this guide describes the French regulatory framework. Thresholds differ by country, and the gap is wide. In the United States there is no federal meal or rest break requirement at all, several states set their own, and overtime starts beyond 40 hours in a workweek: see break laws in the US and overtime pay and the 40-hour rule. In the United Kingdom, the Working Time Regulations provide for a 20 minute break once more than 6 hours are worked and 11 hours of rest between working days: see UK rest breaks. Check the rule that applies where you operate.

Rule 1: the 11-hour daily rest

Every employee must receive a minimum daily rest of 11 consecutive hours between two working days. A shift ending at 10 PM cannot be followed by a shift starting before 9 AM the next day.

Squadra Planning automatically checks this constraint and alerts the manager if a schedule violates this rule.

Rule 2: maximum weekly duration

The legal working time is 35 hours per week. The absolute maximum is 48 hours in any single week and 44 hours average over 12 consecutive weeks.

The system calculates planned hours in real time and displays alerts when thresholds are approaching.

Rule 3: the 24-hour weekly rest

Every employee is entitled to a weekly rest of at least 24 consecutive hours, in addition to the 11-hour daily rest, totaling 35 consecutive hours of rest per week.

Rule 4: overtime and premiums

Beyond 35 hours, overtime carries a premium: 25% for the first 8 hours (36th to 43rd) and 50% beyond that. The annual cap is 220 hours per employee.

Squadra Planning automatically calculates overtime and premiums from actual clock-in data.

Rule 5: Sunday work

Sunday rest is the principle. Exceptions exist for certain stores (tourist zones, food retail) but are regulated. Sunday hours often entitle employees to a salary premium.

Rule 6: notice period

Any schedule modification must be communicated to employees at least 7 days in advance (unless a collective agreement provides for a shorter period, minimum 3 days).

Squadra Planning records the schedule publication date and can send automatic notifications to employees.

Rule 7: mandatory display

The schedule must be posted in a location accessible to all employees. With a digital tool, each employee can view their schedule on their phone, fulfilling this obligation.

Key takeaways

Respect the 11-hour daily rest between shifts
Do not exceed 48h per week or 44h average over 12 weeks
Ensure 35 consecutive hours of weekly rest
Correctly calculate overtime premiums
Follow specific rules for Sunday work
Communicate changes at least 7 days in advance
Make the schedule accessible to all employees

Squadra Planning integrates all these checks automatically. See our pricing and comparison to learn more.

French labor law compliance: 7 rules your schedules must follow