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A full-time employee works more than 35 hours a week, at the employer's request. What does the employee receive for the extra hours?
Model-written, not yet read by a native reader.
Correct answer: Higher pay for those hours, or time off in exchange. Hours beyond 35 a week are overtime. They give the right to higher pay or to equivalent time off. So the employee does not work for free. Source: the Ministry of the Interior sheet “Heures supplémentaires d'un salarié du secteur privé” (in French).
Sources: Sheet “Heures supplémentaires d'un salarié du secteur privé” (French), read on 15 October 2026. Answer written by Hexaciv from this source. Hexaciv is an independent preparation tool. It is not an official website, is not linked to any government body and does not give legal advice. The authoritative source is the Ministry of the Interior's, cited on this page.
The four choices and why
- ✓ Higher pay for those hours, or time off in exchangeUn salaire plus élevé pour ces heures, ou un repos en échangeCorrect answer. Hours beyond 35 a week are overtime. They give the right to higher pay or to equivalent time off. So the employee does not work for free.
- ✗ Nothing: those hours are freeRien : ces heures sont gratuitesOvertime is not free: it gives a right.
- ✗ The same pay as a normal hour, with no time off at allLe même salaire qu'une heure normale, sans reposThese hours are paid with an increase, not at the normal rate.
- ✗ Only a thank-you from the employerSeulement un remerciement de l'employeurA thank-you does not replace pay or time off.
What the source says
« Les heures supplémentaires effectuées donnent droit au salarié à une rémunération plus favorable (taux horaire majoré) ou à un repos compensateur équivalent à la majoration. »
Sentence copied word for word from the source, in French, read on 15 October 2026.
How it reads on exam day
The exam is in French, so this is the question you will see: « Un salarié à temps plein travaille plus de 35 heures par semaine, à la demande de son employeur. Que reçoit-il pour ces heures en plus ? ». Learn the English idea above and the French words in the options.
This question is on the official list for the resident card (CR). The Ministry's wording: “Lorsqu'un employeur veut qu'un salarié travaille plus longtemps que la durée prévue dans le contrat de travail :”.
Where the Ministry explains it
Sheet “Heures supplémentaires d'un salarié du secteur privé” (French).
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