How do meal vouchers work in France?
Meal vouchers enable millions of employees in France to finance their meals or food shopping. They are defined by the French Labor Code as special means of payment issued by employers to cover all or part of the cost of restaurant meals or food products.
Meal vouchers enable millions of employees in France to finance their meals or food shopping. They are defined by the French Labor Code as special means of payment issued by employers to cover all or part of the cost of restaurant meals or food products.
Who can benefit?
Employees, trainees, apprentices and temporary workers are all eligible, provided they take a meal break during a work period. Teleworkers also enjoy the same rights as their colleagues. However, employees who are absent or whose working hours do not include a lunch break are not entitled to a meal voucher. One voucher is awarded for each meal included in the working day.
Is the employer obliged to provide luncheon vouchers?
No, the employer can choose to set up a canteen, pay a lunch allowance or offer nothing at all. Vouchers are only compulsory if provided for in a collective agreement.
How meal vouchers work and their format
Vouchers are financed by the employer (50-60%) and the employee (40-50%). They can take the form of paper vouchers, prepaid cards or mobile applications. Cards enable precise payment, to the nearest cent, while paper cheques generally do not allow change to be given.
Where and how to use them?
They are valid in restaurants, supermarkets, grocery stores and affiliated food shops. However, their use is limited geographically (working department and neighboring departments) and capped at €25 per day. They cannot be used on Sundays and public holidays, unless authorized by the employer.
Validity and renewal
Luncheon vouchers are valid for the calendar year in which they are issued, with an extension until the end of February of the following year. Unused paper vouchers can be exchanged free of charge with the issuer for those of the following year, within 15 days of expiry.
Loss, theft or damage
In the event of loss or theft, the employer or issuer must be notified. Cards can be stopped online. Damaged paper vouchers can be exchanged with the employer, who is under no obligation to accept them.
Average amount
According to data from the Commission nationale des titres restaurants, the average value of a meal voucher is 7.97 euros. To determine the value of the voucher, the employer can base his decision on several factors.
Source(s) : Ministry of Economy and Finance
- What you need to know about meal vouchers as an employee