Can the employer require the employee to work part-time?
Verified 01 August 2024 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
Yes, the employer may introduce schedules at part-time in the company.
However, the employer must comply with the conditions set out in a collective agreement or a collective company agreement.
In the absence of an agreement, the employer shall directly fix the working hours in accordance with the minimum working time weekly is required.
The employer must consult the Social and Economic Committee (ESC) if there is one in the company.
The opinion of the ESC does not oblige the employer to follow it.
If there is no employee representative in the company, the employer shall inform labor inspection its willingness to introduce part-time working arrangements.
The part-time transfer by the employer of the employee working full-time must be taken:
- Depending on the economic difficulties encountered temporarily by the company
- Or depending on another situation.
In such cases, the full-time employee may or may not refuse to work part-time:
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
Temporary economic difficulties
If the proposed reduction in working time is justified by economic difficulties, the refusal of the full-time employee to agree to part-time work may lead to a dismissal on economic grounds.
Please note
Dismissal on economic grounds doit be justified. Economic difficulties arise when the company undergoes a significant change in at least one of the following economic indicators:
- Decrease in orders or sales
- Operating losses or degradation of cash flow or gross operating surplus
- Any other factor which may justify economic difficulties.
In the event of a dispute, the employee may file a complaint with the labor council (CPH).
Other situation
The employee agrees to work part-time
The employee must sign a agreeable to his employment contract.
The employee refuses to work part-time
Part-time work is a essential modification of the contract of employment of the employee.
The employer cannot impose it on the employee without his consent.
In case of disagreement, the employee continues to work full time.
In the event of a dispute, the employee may file a complaint with the labor council (CPH).
Who can help me?
Find who can answer your questions in your region
For further information
Telephone administrative information - Allo Public Service
For more information on this topic, you can contact Allô Service Public.
Attention: the service does not have access to users' personal files and cannot therefore provide information on their status.
He does not respond questions relating to unemployment compensation and representations to France Labor (formerly Pôle emploi), the officials or contractual of the fpublic service, the amount or payment of contributions social, wage or management.
- Lundi : de 08h30 à 17h30
- Mardi : de 08h30 à 12h15
- Mercredi : de 08h30 à 12h15
- Jeudi : de 08h30 à 17h30
- Vendredi : de 13h00 à 16h15
- Service free
The informants who answer you belong to the ministry responsible for labor.
Right to refuse part-time work (public policy)
Content of the agreement or agreement (scope of collective bargaining)
Application procedure in the absence of a convention or agreement (supplementary provisions)
Amendment of an essential element of the contract of employment