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Dismissal notice period

The statutory notice period is one month between 6 months and 2 years of seniority and two months from 2 years; below 6 months the law sets no length, and there is no notice period for gross misconduct, wilful misconduct or unfitness for work.

2026 rules — verified on September 4, 2026Free, no account

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Sources and assumptions

  • legifrance.gouv.fr — LEGIARTI000006901112 — tax year 2026, verified on September 4, 2026
    Excerpt from the source : « 2° S'il justifie chez le même employeur d'une ancienneté de services continus comprise entre six mois et moins de deux ans, à un préavis d'un mois ; »
  • legifrance.gouv.fr — LEGIARTI000006901112 — tax year 2026, verified on September 4, 2026
    Excerpt from the source : « 3° S'il justifie chez le même employeur d'une ancienneté de services continus d'au moins deux ans, à un préavis de deux mois. »
  • service-public.gouv.fr — F2855 — tax year 2026, verified on September 4, 2026
    Excerpt from the source : « La durée du préavis est fixée à 1 mois. »
  • service-public.gouv.fr — F2855 — tax year 2026, verified on September 4, 2026
    Excerpt from the source : « La durée du préavis est fixée à 2 mois. »

Calculation assumptions

  • Statutory regime of the French Labour Code (art. L1234-1) for a private-sector employee on a permanent contract. Not covered: resignation, special statuses (journalists, sales representatives, disabled workers, Alsace-Moselle local law) and notice periods set by the employment contract.
  • Collective agreements often provide a longer notice period, in particular three months for managers: that contractual notice is not computed, only the statutory minimum is.
  • Pay in lieu of notice is computed as monthly gross salary entered × months of notice. Legally it covers everything the employee would have earned until the end of the notice period (bonuses, regular overtime, benefits, paid leave included): enter an average monthly gross salary including those items.
  • For unfitness of occupational origin (work accident or occupational disease), a special compensation in lieu of notice is due (art. L1226-14): it is not computed here, the result corresponds to unfitness of non-occupational origin.

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This result is provided for information purposes only and does not constitute personalised tax advice. Check your situation with the tax authorities or a professional.