The government is asking businesses for a boost to restore purchasing power to the French. The idea of ​​an exceptional tax-free bonus, distributed in 2019 by companies to their employees, emerges to appease the yellow anger.

They are far from being part of the CAC 40. They are rather part of the 99.9% of entrepreneurs of TPE and SME in France. And most are already distributing bonuses. "I find it petty to ask companies, in the context of a national societal conflict, to put their hands in their pockets," said the co-manager of a transport company of 48 employees, based in Loire-Atlantique.

This bonus would be exempt from social charges for employers. "This could encourage businesses with sea urchins in the pockets to give," says the head of a company of 47 employees, near Nantes. At the end of his financial year, according to the result of his company, he redistributed "between 300 and 700 €" . This exceptional bonus, it could seize: "It will enlarge the envelope."

Already bonuses in his company

In Lannion (Côtes-d'Armor), a leader of a graphic industry of nine employees wonders about this announcement. "It's not silly but is it a placebo effect to calm the anger? She wonders. The leader did not wait for government announcements to distribute bonuses to her employees. "At the end of the year, there is always one, plus a monthly premium on turnover (between 80 and 100 € gross per month) and sometimes exceptional bonuses". According to the company manager, premiums "have a greater impact on purchasing power" even before "a small increase in Smic". At the head of an IT solutions company with 400 employees, Jean-Paul Chaperon believes that this premium "must be flagged primarily on low wages . "

For the Medef: "A good idea"

Trade unions and employers met yesterday for a first meeting of negotiations at the Ministry of Labor. For Geoffroy Roux de Bézieux, the Medef representative, the tax-free premium "is a good idea" . At the Confederation of SMEs, it is considered that "the voluntary nature is essential because unfortunately the situation of the companies does not allow to generalize it". But for the CFDT, Laurent Berger said during the first consultation "that it should be mandatory".

Read also: Valérie Pécresse, favorable to a premium tax free

Mickaël who took over a decade ago a morbihannese masonry company would like to pay a premium to his two employees. " Given my cash, it's hard. Prices are low, my quotes are already drawn. He also repeats in a loop, that there is only one solution: to lower the charges. "Because it bumps."