Overview
- The Cour de cassation held that the ban on working more than six days per week refers to the Monday–Sunday civil week, which can allow a schedule of up to twelve consecutive days if each civil week includes a rest day.
- The case arose from a sales director who worked eleven then twelve straight days in 2018 around weekend trade shows, with the high court reversing a 2023 Pau appeals court ruling in his favor.
- Judges cited the EU Working Time Directive and a 2017 Court of Justice reading that leaves timing of the weekly rest to member states, aligning with France’s 2024 Labor Ministry guidance.
- The decision does not remove employers’ obligations to protect workers’ physical and mental health or other working‑time limits, and more favorable collective agreements continue to apply.
- The clarification reflects practices already seen in sectors such as retail, hospitality, transport and media, while experts warn about potential health risks if extended runs are used too often.