France clarifies heat‑wave work compensation rules for employers

France does not have an automatic heat‑wave premium for all employees. Compensation is only required when a collective agreement, branch convention, or employer decision applies, and when heat is recognised as a hardship factor. The law sets the threshold at 30 °C for at least 900 hours of exposure per year. When the condition is met, workers can earn points on their Compte Professionnel de Prévention (C2P) for training, part‑time work or early retirement.

For construction sites, a decree dated 28 June 2024 allows periods of extreme heat to be treated as “intempéries”. If a site is halted for safety, the affected employee receives 75 % of the hourly wage, limited to 9 hours per day, 45 hours per week and 495 hours per year. Beyond monetary compensation, employers must assess heat risks in the single‑document risk assessment, adjust schedules, provide extra breaks and limit physically demanding tasks during the hottest hours.