While doing some research for one of our previous blog posts, Undercover Boss, where the head of the company was in the spotlight, I discovered some discussions about what it’s like for an American to be an employee in France. Because we were both retired by the time we moved here, neither of us has any first-hand experience of being in the workforce here but friends have shared their knowledge and several bloggers have expressed their opinions too. Combining these sources and looking for any similarities has provided interesting and sometimes amusing examples of what Americans have found when they started working in an office in Paris or elsewhere in the country.

Some blog posts had sensational titles such as “19 Differences that will Astonish” and “French Culture SHOCKS!” but I found a list of 10 differences on the “Am I French Yet?” blog to be the most down-to-earth. The author is a New Yorker who moved to Paris in 2017 and shares some ideas of what you might have to become accustomed to in your new office. These are generalities so they might not all apply in all situations, but are still common.

Shake hands or air kisses—Each morning many people will greet their colleagues individually with a handshake or a cheek to cheek air kiss rather than a general “bonjour” to the entire group. We were in a crowded train station ticket office one morning and watched an arriving staff member go to each staff member, including the woman at the window who was helping us, with a friendly greeting.

Lunch break means lunch BREAK—At midday, typically from noon to 2 PM, everyone leaves their desk and goes out for a break. Larger companies provide a cafeteria with subsidized food and/or restaurant coupons that can also be used at supermarkets. Three-course meals are common as is a glass of wine. Don’t forget your morning and afternoon coffee break.

There is a genuine work/life balance—The government-regulated work week is 35 hours and most people will enjoy 5 weeks of paid vacation. Work is work and everything else is private time meaning that once you’ve left the office you shouldn’t be answering phone calls and emails or have other interruptions.

Your personal life stays at home—French workers are still rated among the most productive in the world so those 35 hours at work have to be devoted to the job. You won’t typically see family photos on desks nor be expected to attend parties, showers, etc. for coworkers unless you have become close friends with them.

Work is what you do, not who you are—This is where the contrast between Live to Work and Work to Live comes into play. I remember talking with a private contractor, kind of like a handyman, who could probably be busy 365 days a year yet spends a significant amount of time with his family, including a month off each summer. He explained that he works “to have enough” and then prefers his home life with loved ones. At the time, a US presidential candidate was quoted as saying, “I’m really rich,” so I asked this Frenchman what he thought and his reply was, “So what?”

No sugar coating—”Don’t be offended” is the advice we’d heard more than once about the direct manner in which the French can sometimes speak in comparison with Americans. We’ve certainly had questions like, “Why do you say that?” or “Why do Americans do that?” from French friends who aren’t being mean but simply want to know more about what we’re discussing. I read of a Frenchman being shocked that he was fired from his job in New York because, according to his interpretation, every encounter with his boss had been friendly and complimentary although the written reprimands documented a different story.

Several of the websites I looked at agreed that the French admire the positive, can-do attitude that they see in their American colleagues, who in turn, enjoy the quality of life they experience when coming to work here. Sounds like the best of both worlds!

Photo notes: Across the top is the business district of La Defense in Paris by urtimud and the coffee in the first paragraph is by spotwizardlee; thank you both.