For undertakings with more than 20 employees, the reduction of working time to 35 hours will henceforth have for consequence the transformation into overtime of hours worked between the 36 th hour and the 39 th hour inclusive. However, a working time reduction agreement or any other collective agreement may provide that this increase shall be attributed in the form of salary. However, during the above transition year, only the hours worked over 37 hours will be deducted from the annual overtime quota. This threshold will be reduced to 36 hours in 2001 or 2003 according to the size of the undertaking, and finally to 35 hours in 2002 or 2004. Above this annual overtime quota of 130 hours, every hour worked overtime opens up to one hour of rest time.
Executives are also concerned by the reduction of working time.
Executives often work on average more than 39 hours a week. In the event of an annual quota of days being applied within the undertaking, the duration of work is calculated in days. These annual quotas of hours or days are destined to executives for whom working hours may not be determined in advance. A branch or company agreement is necessary. For an undertaking with more than 50 employees to benefit from these social charges reductions, an agreement fixing working time to 35 hours a week or 1600 hours a year must be signed within the undertaking by representative bodies of the employers and the employees.