Barthélémy Philippe // Credits: ERIC AUDRAS / ALTOPRESS / PHOTOALTO VIA AFP 8:28 p.m., March 18, 2024

After the 4-day week with unchanged working hours in the civil service, the government wants to offer state agents the opportunity to experiment with a differentiated week.

Europe 1 reveals the precise terms of this formula which is primarily aimed at separated parents who look after their child(ren) every other week. 

It was an announcement that caused quite a stir.

On Sunday, Prime Minister Gabriel Attal spoke of the experiment with a differentiated week for separated parents, who operate in alternating custody.

The idea is simple: free up time for parents who look after their children alone, by allowing them to work four days instead of five every other week.

Among the objectives, there is the desire to tackle part-time work, particularly among single mothers. 

According to information from Europe 1, this project includes a modulation of working time.

So it’s not about doing 35 hours in four days.

Employees who choose the differentiated week will work less when they look after their child(ren).

4 days and only 33 hours of work. 

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On the other hand, their working hours will increase when they are childless.

It will be 5 days and 37 of work.

An alternative formula which allows legal working hours to be maintained.

Despite the adjustments, the employees concerned will be at their posts 140 hours per month, or 35 hours per week on average.

Starting tomorrow, Minister Stanislas Guérini will kick off the experiment of this differentiated week in the public service, which should be implemented from September in the candidate administrations.

Important clarification, for the employee, the differentiated week will be done solely on a voluntary basis.

This new formula is in addition to the 4-day week, already tested in some public services and certain private companies.

As a reminder, it consists of concentrating the 35 hours on 4 days instead of 5, and continuing with a three-day weekend.