From England to Paris: A Legal Assistant’s Crash Course in French Work Culture
In 2017, an ambitious career move took one professional from a legal assistant role in England to a fresh start in Paris. The transition came with more than just a new job—it brought a crash course in French workplace culture. Within days of arriving, they discovered how differently things worked, from lunch breaks to office etiquette.
The author landed in France with little time to adjust. Just three days after arriving, they began a news position at a French company. The pace of change didn’t stop there—social customs quickly became a daily reality. Greeting every colleague in an elevator, even strangers, was expected, along with polite wishes for a daily mail.
Mealtimes proved another adjustment. The French take lunch seriously, often enjoying subsidised meals and two-hour breaks. Drinking alcohol at midday wasn’t frowned upon—it was normal. In fact, the author consumed more champagne in their first two months than in their entire life before. Work-life balance also stood out. Employees in France must take at least two consecutive weeks off each year. The author’s first year included over five weeks of paid leave, plus eleven public holidays. Even outside the office, the ‘right to disconnect’ meant no obligation to check news after hours. Language added another layer of complexity. Navigating when to use tu or vous—the informal and formal ‘you’—became a daily tightrope for the newcomer.
The shift from England to France brought more than a new address. It meant adapting to a workplace where long lunches, strict vacation rules, and social niceties shaped daily life. For the author, the experience became a lesson in how deeply culture influences even the simplest professional routines.
