We’ve worked with plenty of professionals from both the U.S. and France. Based on that, we can tell you that the different approaches each nationality takes to well, just about everything can feel worlds apart. That doesn’t mean Americans can’t work successfully in France or with French colleagues. To do so, though, they need French language and cultural training.

Even if they speak fluent French, an American who lacks cultural savvy could end up offending French colleagues or feeling so isolated in France that they decide to end their international assignment early, which could cost your organization a lot.

Here’s a sampling of the cultural guidance we give our clients about working in France. It’s all based on the experiences of our French instructors, who are all native speakers, and our founder, Micah Bellieu, who’s been around French since hearing her grandparents speak it when she was a child.

Office Hierarchy: Flat vs. Formal

“Virtue, perhaps, is nothing more than politeness of soul.”

— Honoré de Balzac, French novelist

If you’re used to American workplaces, where even the CEO might insist you call them by their first name, French offices can feel like a different universe. That’s because they kind of are.

France scores 68 on Hofstede’s Power Distance Index, which measures how much a society accepts unequal distribution of power. The U.S.? Just 40. This means French employees are generally more comfortable with clear hierarchies. Decisions tend to come from the top and flow downward. Junior staff typically defer to senior colleagues, especially in meetings—where speaking out of turn or interrupting a higher-ranking employee would be considered inappropriate.

Then there’s the matter of formality. In American offices, first names are the default. But in France, you’ll address colleagues as Monsieur or Madame followed by their last name until they invite you to do otherwise. The formal “you” (vous) is standard in business settings; switching to the informal tu without permission can come across as presumptuous or even disrespectful.

This extends to written communication, too. French business emails [SB1] open with elaborate salutations and close with formal sign-offs that can seem almost ceremonial to Americans. A typical closing might be Je vous prie d’agréer, Madame, l’expression de mes salutations distinguées—roughly, “Please accept, Madam, the expression of my distinguished greetings.” In the U.S., that would come off as comical overkill; in France, it’s just how things are done.

When in doubt, err on the side of formality. It’s much easier to become more casual once invited than to recover from seeming presumptuous.

Communication Styles: Friendly vs. Reserved

“We never listen when we are eager to speak.”

— François de La Rochefoucauld, French author

It’s a stereotype, but it’s also true: Americans tend to be warm and open with others even when we don’t know them well. We smile at strangers, make small talk in elevators and often treat new acquaintances like old friends. The French? Not so much.

This doesn’t mean the French are unfriendly—far from it, actually. But they tend to hold back until they’ve had time to better understand a situation or a person. Superficial chitchat doesn’t go over as well in France. The French prize depth over breadth in their relationships. They would rather have fewer, deeper connections than a wide network of casual acquaintances.

You might notice this immediately when you arrive in France. The French don’t smile to acknowledge strangers the way Americans often do. That constant, reflexive friendliness that feels polite to us can actually seem insincere to the French—like you’re trying too hard.

At the same time, though, the French stand closer during conversation than Americans typically do, which can feel intimate or even intrusive if you’re not expecting it. And then there’s la bise—the famous French greeting kiss. Before you panic (or startle someone by planting a big, wet smooch on their cheek), let us reassure you: la bise is more of a light cheek-to-cheek touch and an air kiss. In business settings, it’s typically reserved for colleagues who know each other well, and men usually wait for a woman to initiate. When in doubt, a light handshake with eye contact is always appropriate.

One more thing: The French are comfortable with silence and don’t feel the need to fill every pause in conversation. Americans often interpret this as coldness or lack of interest. It’s neither. It’s just different.

Work-Life Balance: Hustle vs. Joie de Vivre

“Life is not work: working incessantly makes you crazy.”

— Charles de Gaulle, former French prime minister and president

How many hours do you usually work each week? For American workers, the average is 42.9 hours, according to Gallup. And that’s actually down from five years ago. In France, 35 hours is the legal standard for full-time employment. Overtime does exist in France, but it’s also limited.

Jealous yet? Well, we haven’t even talked about paid vacation time. France mandates five weeks of vacation per year. The U.S. doesn’t have laws that require paid vacation; almost a quarter of Americans work in jobs that don’t give them vacation days. Almost two-thirds of us who do get vacation days don’t use them all. Why? Fear of falling behind is one big reason.

You may have also heard of French workers’ “right to disconnect.” By law, they don’t have to respond to work calls or emails while they’re off. No, we’re not kidding. Meanwhile, in the U.S., only about a quarter of employees say they don’t check email after work hours.

Why do France and America think so differently about work? It’s the contrast between the Puritan work ethic engrained in the founding of our country and the French emphasis on joie de vivre (joy of living), which goes back centuries.

The Finer Points: More Workplace Differences

“France has the only two things towards which we drift as we grow older—intelligence and manners.”

— F. Scott Fitzgerald, American author

We’ve talked about the big-picture cultural differences, but plenty of smaller details can catch Americans off guard when they start working in France. Here are some of the most common questions we get from our clients.

Can I eat lunch at my desk?

You can, but you’ll get some looks. Americans expect eating to fit into their other activities, like catching up on emails over lunch. For the French, eating is communal. Meals are social occasions—they’re about a shared experience. In other words, the French have no use for the “sad desk lunch.” Lunch breaks typically last one to two hours, and they’re considered an opportunity to build relationships with colleagues, not close deals. At your first French business lunch, follow your host’s lead, pace yourself through multiple courses and don’t dive into business talk right away.

Do I really have to say bonjour to everyone?

Oui. In the U.S., you might be used to heading right to your desk and getting to work as soon as you arrive at the office. In France, though, that’s bad form. Greet people before any interaction. Skipping this ritual signals rudeness.

What should I wear to work?

French formality shows up in the way people dress. Even “business casual” in France tends toward tailored clothes and polished shoes. Those comfy athleisure pieces that are perfectly acceptable in some American offices? Save them for yoga class. When in doubt, dress simply but elegantly.

What happens when there’s a strike?

Some Americans are startled by how much more common strikes and demonstrations are in France. Most of the time, though, there’s no need to get too alarmed. Protests are considered a normal part of civic life in a way they aren’t in the U.S. Strikes in France are protected by law, and French employees are more insulated from employer retaliation than their American counterparts.

What this means for you: Transport strikes can disrupt your commute or travel plans, so always have a backup plan. And if your French colleagues seem unruffled by a demonstration that would make headlines in the U.S., take your cues from them.

Will people be smoking in my office?

You may have heard that smoking is more common in France than in the U.S.—about 32% of French adults smoke, compared with 16% of Americans. If you’re picturing colleagues puffing away at their desks, though, let us ease your mind.

France banned indoor workplace smoking in 2007. However, you probably will see more colleagues than you’re used to stepping out for cigarette breaks and possibly lighting up during long business dinners at outdoor café terraces.

First Impressions: Americans vs. French

“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness.”

— Mark Twain, American author

How an American might perceive their new French colleagues:

It’s my third week at the Paris office, and I still can’t figure out if my colleagues like me. Back in Chicago, I’d have grabbed coffee with half the team by now. Here, everyone’s perfectly polite—lots of “Bonjour, Madame” and formal handshakes—but no one’s suggested lunch or asked about my weekend. In meetings, I keep waiting for people to jump in with ideas, but the junior staff barely say a word unless our director addresses them directly. And yesterday I made a joke during a presentation, trying to lighten the mood, and got nothing but silence. I don’t think I offended anyone, but who knows? The weird thing is, I noticed two of my colleagues doing la bise this morning—so they clearly have close relationships here. I just don’t know how to get there. Maybe I’m trying too hard?

How a French professional might perceive their new American colleague:

The American who joined us last month is… a lot. She’s clearly smart and good at her job, but she started calling everyone by their first names on day one, even our department head—who looked rather startled but didn’t say anything. She seems to want to be best friends with everyone immediately, which is a bit exhausting. In meetings, she interrupts constantly, and not always with fully formed ideas. I get the sense she thinks we’re all too reserved, but I don’t understand why she’s in such a hurry. We barely know each other. I do appreciate her energy. Perhaps once she settles in and stops trying so hard, we’ll find a rhythm. These things take time.

Why French Cultural Fluency Matters

Sometimes people are surprised that we talk so much about culture as a language training firm. Here’s the thing, though: Language and cultural fluency are inseparable when it comes to feeling at home in France or working with French colleagues. You can speak perfect French and still offend your colleagues by launching into a request without saying bonjour first. You can nail every verb conjugation and still seem clueless because you called the boss by their first name.

Employees who relocate internationally (not just to France) without cultural preparation often see significant productivity declines during their first year. It’s easy to understand why. In your daily life in the U.S., you are probably on “autopilot” most of the time. You don’t have to think about all the little aspects of daily life, like what to wear to work or the right way to make a business call. In another culture, though, every decision or interaction takes a lot more thought and energy.

Bridging the Gap

We love helping French and American professionals learn to thrive in each other’s countries. It’s exciting to see our clients expand their perspectives, challenge their assumptions and learn to collaborate across cultures. But to reap all those benefits, you simply can’t skip cultural training.

At Fluency Corp, we provide language and cultural training designed specifically for professionals working across borders. Our instructors are native speakers who teach vocabulary and cultural context. Whether you’re relocating to France, hosting French colleagues or expanding your business into the French market, we can help you and your team build the skills to connect and succeed.

Ready to start? Contact us for a free consultation.