French Business

URAP Etiquettes
POWERPOINT
Far far away, behind the word mountains, far from the countries Vokalia

Group 5 Business Communication - Friday

 TABLE 1. Business schedule

OF 2. Dress code
CONTEN 3. Business gift giving in France
TS
4. Attitude towards time
 Group members
Members
1. Nguyễn Khoa Hoan - 1717710084

2. Nguyễn Khánh Huyền - 1717710096

3. Lê Thị Hồng Nhung - 1717710142

4. Nguyễn Ngọc Bích - 1717710030

5. Lê Thanh Tùng - 1617710163

01.
Business schedule
 5

Business schedule

2. General working 4. “Right to

hours disconnect” law

Within
French
business
1. Working week is 3. 8-hour/day 5. Improper periods
Monday to Friday schedule for business
appointment
Branding Slides www.slideforest.com
 6

1. Working week 2. General

4. “Right to disconnect”
(Monday -> Friday) working hours
law

- Working day depends on the

company, its sector, corporate
culture, size and location in France.

- Managerial jobs: more flexible.

5. Improper
Ask partners the company’s 3. 8-hour/day
time for
schedule business
working days in advance. appointment

Branding Slides www.slideforest.com

 7

2. Working hours

-Generally from 8:30 or 9:00 a.m,

to 6:30 or 7:00 p.m and include 1
or 2 hours off for lunch.

4. “Right to disconnect”
Negotiation should take place law
from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m or from
2:00 to 5:00 p.m

1. Working 3. 8-hour/day 5. Improper

week schedule time for
Branding Slides business www.slideforest.com
appointment
 8

4. “Right to
disconnect” law
2. General
working hours
3. 8-hour/day
schedule
1. Working
5. Improper
-Some have implemented an 8-
week
time for hour/day schedule with Friday
business
appointment afternoon off

Avoid scheduling appointments

in Friday afternoon

Branding Slides www.slideforest.com

 9
4. ”Right to
disconnect” law
-Introduced in 2017
-Forbid employees from sending or
replying to emails after certain hours.
-> maintain a work-life balance

For imperative messages,

2. General avoid sending them when
Working hours your partners are off work.

1. Working 3. 8-hour/day
schedule 5. Improper
week time for
business
Branding Slides appointment www.slideforest.com
 2. General 10
working hours 4. “Right to
disconnect” law

1. Working
week
3. 8-hour/day 5. Improper periods
schedule
for business
appointment
- July and August: festival
season.
- August is “sacred” and the
country comes to a halt because
some companies close.

Avoid appointment in
July and August.
Branding Slides www.slideforest.com
02.
Dress code
Keep it formal
- Virtually all French companies
maintain a formal office
atmosphere. 

- For business, women should wear

conservative suits, pantsuits, and
dresses.

- Suit coats stay on in offices and

restaurants.

Source: pexels.com
When in doubt,
opt for formal
- Not sure what to wear? err on the side
of formal instead of casual.

- When invited to dress down: a jacket

and tie. Don’t go cheap, and don’t go
tacky.

Source: pexels.com
Choose tailored
clothing

Having a tailor fits your body

perfectly.

Source: pexels.com
Avoid bright colors
or patterns

There’s nothing wrong with pinstripes,

polka dots and checkered patterns – but
for business, you’ll want to tone them
down

Source: pinterest.com
 Don’t overdo it
- In France, you want to show that you
know how to dress well, but without
drawing too much attention to
yourself.

- Flashy jewelry and eccentric hairstyles

aren’t a good idea

Source: pinterest.com
 Don’t dress in
sensual manner
It’s OK to draw attention to the
features you like about yourself, but
let it happen naturally and elegantly.

Source: pinterest.com
03.
Gift giving customs regarding
business
 19

1 Timing is important
Avoid giving gift in the first business meeting

French gift-giving protocol is to send New Year's

greetings and occur only in January, not later.

2 French business etiquette

Avoid enclosing your business card in the gift

3 Don’t give gifts featuring a company’s logo

It can be considered in poor taste

Branding Slides www.slideforest.com

 20
4 Don’t send it to their house
Never send a gift for a French colleague to his or her
home unless it is related to a social event.

5 Gift taste
A good gift: avoid offended their intelligence
E.g: a too simple gift may imply you disrespect their
knowledge

French loves artsy items or books

6 Give the right one

Learn the meaning of the gift before giving
E.g: red roses are for close friend and lover, Holiday
Branding Slides
Cards express gratitude for business associates.
www.slideforest.com
04.
Attitude towards time
 Meetings should be scheduled
about two weeks in advance

  Confirm a day or two before the

appointments. 

Source: pexels.com
 Be punctual
 Arrive at the meeting on time to
show you politeness. If you’re late,
call to explain and apologize

  A 5-minute delay is tolerated if it

has been confirmed.

 People in the South: more casual

attitudes to time.

Source: pexels.com
Thank you for listening!
 References
1. S.l. (2020, January 10). Working. Retrieved from
https://www.justlanded.com/english/France/France-Guide/Jobs/Working#:~:text=The working week is Monday
, less lunch, and finishing earlier.
2. (2018, September 18). Retrieved from https://ibstours.com/blog/business-attire-in-france/
3. Cultural Etiquette. (n.d.). eDiplomat. Retrieved from
http://www.ediplomat.com/np/cultural_etiquette/ce_fr.htm
4. How to Do Business in France. (2019, February 26). Retrieved from
https://www.veem.com/library/how-to-do-business-in-france/
5. Guide to Gift Giving Around The World: Cultures & Gifting. (2020, April 07). Retrieved June 08, 2020, from
https://www.globesmart.com/blog/guide-to-gift-giving-around-the-world/
6. France Gift Giving Customs. (n.d.). Retrieved June 08, 2020, from
http://www.giftypedia.com/France_Gift_Giving_Customs
7. (n.d.). Retrieved June 08, 2020, from http://www.1worldglobalgifts.com/francegiftgivingetiquette.htm
8. André, A. (2017, October 02). International and French Business Etiquette A Visual Guide Infographic.
Retrieved June 08, 2020, from https://www.annieandre.com/french-business-etiquette-infographic/
9. France: Business practices. (n.d.). Retrieved June 08, 2020, from
https://santandertrade.com/en/portal/establish-overseas/france/business-practices
10. Work-life balance. (2019, November 12). Retrieved June 08, 2020, from
https://businessculture.org/western-europe/business-culture-in-france/work-life-balance-in-france/