Work Week

While you may sneer at each mention of the 35-hour French workweek, it’s not as extreme as it sounds. It’s simply the legal maximum number of hours that must be worked before overtime is paid. Moreover, the average workweek in France is 36 hours, and third, the average US workweek is currently 34.4 hours and is very stable. Since 3/06, the peak was 34.6 and the trough was 33.7.