plein-temps
plein-temps in 30 Sekunden
- Plein-temps means full-time employment, usually 35 hours a week in France.
- It is most commonly used in the adverbial phrase 'à plein-temps'.
- It is the standard for stable careers and full social benefits.
- The opposite is 'mi-temps' (half-time) or 'temps partiel' (part-time).
The term plein-temps, often used as part of the phrase à plein-temps, is a fundamental pillar of the French professional vocabulary. At its core, it describes a work arrangement where an employee completes the full legal or contractual number of hours required by a company or national legislation. In the specific context of France, this is inextricably linked to the famous 35-hour work week (les 35 heures), though in many other Francophone regions like Quebec or Switzerland, the actual hours may vary between 38 and 42 hours per week.
- Administrative Definition
- A contract is considered 'plein-temps' when the working hours are equal to the legal duration of work or the duration set by a branch or company agreement.
Après ses études, elle a enfin décroché un poste à plein-temps dans une agence de marketing.
When you use this word, you are communicating stability and commitment. It differentiates a career role from a 'job d'appoint' (side job) or 'temps partiel' (part-time). In social settings, asking someone if they work 'à plein-temps' is a common way to understand their daily rhythm and availability. It is not just a HR term; it is a lifestyle descriptor that implies a standard Monday-to-Friday commitment for most office workers.
- The RTT Connection
- In France, working 'à plein-temps' often entitles workers to RTT (Réduction du Temps de Travail) days if they work more than 35 hours a week, providing extra vacation days instead of overtime pay.
Le contrat à plein-temps offre généralement une meilleure protection sociale.
Understanding this word is crucial for anyone looking to navigate the French job market. It appears on every job board (Pôle Emploi, Indeed France, LinkedIn) and is a key negotiation point during interviews. It carries connotations of 'un CDI' (Contrat à Durée Indéterminée), the holy grail of French employment, though a 'plein-temps' job can also be temporary (CDD).
Using plein-temps correctly requires understanding its grammatical placement. While it looks like a simple adjective, it functions most frequently within the adverbial phrase à plein-temps. You will rarely hear 'un plein-temps travail'; instead, you will hear 'un travail à plein-temps'.
- Direct Object Usage
- Je cherche un emploi à plein-temps pour stabiliser mes revenus.
Il est passé d'un mi-temps à un plein-temps le mois dernier.
When modifying a person, the structure changes slightly. You don't usually say 'je suis un employé plein-temps'. Instead, you say 'Je suis employé à plein-temps'. This nuance is vital for sounding like a native speaker. The word implies a totality—'plein' meaning full and 'temps' meaning time.
- Verb Pairings
- Common verbs used with this term include: travailler (to work), embaucher (to hire), recruter (to recruit), and occuper (to hold a position).
L'entreprise recrute deux nouveaux développeurs à plein-temps.
In formal writing, such as a CV or a cover letter (lettre de motivation), you might use the synonym temps complet. While 'plein-temps' is perfectly acceptable, 'temps complet' sounds slightly more administrative and formal. For example: 'Disponible immédiatement pour un poste à temps complet'. However, in daily conversation, 'plein-temps' remains the dominant choice.
The word plein-temps echoes through the halls of every office building (les bureaux), factory (l'usine), and retail space in the French-speaking world. It is the standard against which all other work schedules are measured. You will hear it most frequently in HR departments during contract negotiations.
Lors de l'entretien, le RH a précisé que c'était un poste à plein-temps avec des horaires flexibles.
Beyond the professional sphere, you'll hear it in social contexts when people discuss their work-life balance. Parents often discuss whether they are returning to work 'à plein-temps' after parental leave (congé parental). In this context, it signifies a major shift in family dynamics and time management.
- News and Media
- Economic news reports frequently use this term when discussing unemployment rates or the creation of 'emplois à plein-temps' versus precarious part-time work.
In the creative and freelance world, 'plein-temps' takes on a different flavor. A musician might say, 'Je suis musicien à plein-temps maintenant', implying they no longer have a 'day job' and their art provides their full income. Here, it is a badge of professional success and dedication.
Il a quitté son job de serveur pour devenir graphiste à plein-temps.
Finally, you will find it in legal documents. The French Code du Travail is very specific about what constitutes 'travail à plein-temps'. If you are ever reading a French employment contract, this word will be near the top, usually in the section titled 'Durée du travail'.
Even intermediate learners often stumble when using plein-temps. The most frequent error is omitting the preposition à. English speakers are used to saying 'I work full-time', so they translate it directly as 'Je travaille plein-temps'. In French, the 'à' is mandatory for the phrase to function adverbially.
- Mistake: Direct Translation
- Incorrect: Je cherche un job plein-temps.
Correct: Je cherche un job à plein-temps.
Ne dites pas 'Je suis un travailleur plein-temps', dites 'Je travaille à plein-temps'.
Another common mistake is confusing plein-temps with temps plein. While 'temps plein' is widely used in Quebec (le français québécois), in France, 'plein-temps' or 'temps complet' are more standard for official documents. Using 'temps plein' in Paris won't make you misunderstood, but it might sound slightly 'off' or regional to a local ear.
Learners also sometimes confuse it with temps complet. While they are synonyms, 'temps complet' is the technical opposite of 'temps partiel', whereas 'plein-temps' is the conversational opposite of 'mi-temps'. Using 'plein-temps' in a very formal legal letter might be slightly too casual, though this is a minor nuance.
- Gender and Number
- As an invariable compound noun/adjective in this context, 'plein-temps' does not change for gender or number. Do not add an 'e' or 's'.
Lastly, avoid using 'plein-temps' to describe how busy you are in a general sense. If you want to say 'I am busy full-time', you would use 'Je suis occupé toute la journée'. 'Plein-temps' is strictly reserved for professional or dedicated activity schedules.
To truly master the vocabulary of employment, you need to know the alternatives to plein-temps. The most formal alternative is temps complet. This is the term you will see in legal statutes and official government forms. It is precise and carries no ambiguity.
- Temps Complet vs Plein-temps
- 'Temps complet' is more administrative; 'plein-temps' is more common in speech. Both mean 100% of the legal working hours.
Le poste est à temps complet, soit 35 heures par semaine.
On the other side of the spectrum, we have mi-temps (half-time) and temps partiel (part-time). While 'mi-temps' specifically implies 50%, 'temps partiel' can be anything less than full-time (e.g., 80% or 24 hours a week). Knowing these allows you to describe any work situation.
Another related term is CDI (Contrat à Durée Indéterminée). While not a synonym for 'plein-temps', they often go together. A CDI can be part-time, but usually, when people think of a 'real job' in France, they envision a 'CDI à plein-temps'. Contrast this with intermittent or pige (for journalists), which are specific types of non-standard work hours.
- Usage Comparison
- Plein-temps: Conversational, standard.
Temps complet: Legalistic, formal.
Temps plein: Canadian French standard.
If you want to describe a person who is fully dedicated to something other than a job, you might use à temps plein as well. For example, 'une mère à temps plein' (a full-time mother). This usage parallels the English 'full-time' perfectly and is very common in modern French.
Wusstest du?
The hyphenated form 'plein-temps' became standardized as a compound noun/adjective specifically to describe employment, distinguishing it from the literal 'full time' (plenty of time).
Aussprachehilfe
- Pronouncing the 's' at the end of 'temps' (it is silent).
- Pronouncing the 'n' in 'plein' as a hard English 'n'.
- Forgetting the nasal quality of both vowels.
- Stress on the first syllable.
- Pronouncing 'plein' like the English word 'plain'.
Beispiele nach Niveau
Je travaille à plein-temps.
I work full-time.
Uses the preposition 'à' with the phrase.
C'est un job à plein-temps.
It is a full-time job.
'Job' is a common anglicism in French.
Il n'est pas à mi-temps, il est à plein-temps.
He is not part-time, he is full-time.
Contrast between 'mi-temps' and 'plein-temps'.
Elle cherche un travail à plein-temps.
She is looking for a full-time job.
'Travail' is a masculine noun.
Mon père travaille à plein-temps.
My father works full-time.
Simple subject-verb-adverbial structure.
Est-ce un poste à plein-temps ?
Is it a full-time position?
Inversion for a formal question.
Nous voulons un contrat à plein-temps.
We want a full-time contract.
'Contrat' is the noun being modified.
Il aime son travail à plein-temps.
He likes his full-time job.
Possessive adjective 'son' matches 'travail'.
Elle a trouvé un emploi à plein-temps dans une banque.
She found a full-time job in a bank.
Passé composé of 'trouver'.
Voulez-vous travailler à plein-temps ou à mi-temps ?
Do you want to work full-time or part-time?
Use of 'ou' to offer alternatives.
Un étudiant ne peut pas travailler à plein-temps.
A student cannot work full-time.
Negative structure with 'ne... pas'.
Le salaire est bon pour un plein-temps.
The salary is good for a full-time (job).
Here 'plein-temps' is used as a noun.
Ils recrutent des serveurs à plein-temps.
They are recruiting full-time waiters.
Plural noun 'serveurs' with the adverbial phrase.
Je préfère un poste à plein-temps pour avoir plus d'argent.
I prefer a full-time position to have more money.
'Pour' followed by an infinitive.
Mon frère est maintenant à plein-temps.
My brother is now full-time.
Ellipsis where 'employé' is understood.
Elle travaille à plein-temps depuis lundi.
She has been working full-time since Monday.
'Depuis' used with the present tense for ongoing actions.
Il est difficile de concilier une vie de famille et un travail à plein-temps.
It is difficult to balance family life and a full-time job.
Use of 'concilier' (to balance/reconcile).
Le passage au plein-temps a été une grande étape pour lui.
Moving to full-time was a big step for him.
Noun phrase 'le passage au plein-temps'.
Bien que ce soit un plein-temps, les horaires sont flexibles.
Although it is full-time, the hours are flexible.
Subjunctive after 'bien que'.
La plupart des employés de cette usine travaillent à plein-temps.
Most employees of this factory work full-time.
'La plupart des' followed by a plural noun.
Elle a demandé un passage à plein-temps après son congé.
She requested a move to full-time after her leave.
'Demander' used with a noun.
Un poste à plein-temps offre souvent plus d'avantages sociaux.
A full-time position often offers more social benefits.
Adverb 'souvent' placement.
Si je travaillais à plein-temps, je n'aurais plus de temps libre.
If I worked full-time, I wouldn't have any free time left.
Hypothetical 'si' clause (imparfait + conditionnel).
L'annonce précise que c'est un contrat à plein-temps de 35 heures.
The ad specifies that it is a 35-hour full-time contract.
Specific mention of the 35-hour week.
Le gouvernement encourage la création d'emplois à plein-temps stables.
The government encourages the creation of stable full-time jobs.
Agreement of the adjective 'stables' with 'emplois'.
Travailler à plein-temps ne garantit pas toujours un niveau de vie décent.
Working full-time doesn't always guarantee a decent standard of living.
Gerund-like use of the infinitive 'travailler'.
Elle a dû renoncer à son poste à plein-temps pour s'occuper de ses parents.
She had to give up her full-time position to care for her parents.
'Renoncer à' (to give up something).
Le télétravail est devenu courant pour les postes à plein-temps dans le secteur numérique.
Remote work has become common for full-time positions in the digital sector.
Compound subject and adjective agreement.
Il est rare de trouver un stagiaire qui travaille à plein-temps pendant toute l'année.
It is rare to find an intern who works full-time throughout the year.
Relative clause starting with 'qui'.
La transition du mi-temps au plein-temps nécessite une nouvelle organisation.
The transition from part-time to full-time requires a new organization.
'Nécessite' used with a direct object.
Certains secteurs privilégient le temps partiel au détriment du plein-temps.
Some sectors favor part-time work at the expense of full-time work.
'Au détriment de' (at the expense of).
Malgré un plein-temps, il peine à joindre les deux bouts.
Despite a full-time (job), he struggles to make ends meet.
'Malgré' used with a noun phrase.
La précarisation de l'emploi remet en question la suprématie du modèle à plein-temps.
The precariousness of employment calls into question the supremacy of the full-time model.
'Remettre en question' (to challenge/call into question).
L'épuisement professionnel touche même les salariés travaillant à plein-temps avec des horaires fixes.
Professional burnout affects even full-time employees with fixed hours.
Present participle 'travaillant'.
Il convient d'analyser si le plein-temps demeure le socle de l'intégration sociale.
It is worth analyzing whether full-time work remains the foundation of social integration.
'Il convient de' (it is appropriate/worthwhile to).
La flexibilisation du marché a réduit le nombre de contrats à plein-temps classiques.
Market flexibilization has reduced the number of traditional full-time contracts.
Noun 'flexibilisation'.
Elle s'investit à plein-temps dans son association caritative.
She invests herself full-time in her charitable association.
Reflexive verb 's'investir' (to dedicate oneself).
Le passage aux 35 heures a redéfini la notion même de plein-temps en France.
The transition to the 35-hour week redefined the very notion of full-time in France.
Use of 'même' for emphasis.
Certains cadres ne comptent plus leurs heures, dépassant largement le cadre du plein-temps.
Some executives no longer count their hours, greatly exceeding the full-time framework.
Present participle 'dépassant'.
L'automatisation pourrait, à terme, rendre le travail à plein-temps obsolète pour certains métiers.
Automation could, eventually, make full-time work obsolete for certain professions.
Conditional 'pourrait' for possibility.
L'hégémonie du salariat à plein-temps s'effrite face à l'émergence de nouvelles formes de travail atomisées.
The hegemony of full-time wage labor is crumbling in the face of the emergence of new, atomized forms of work.
High-level vocabulary like 'hégémonie' and 'atomisées'.
La corrélation entre plein-temps et protection sociale est au cœur des débats sur le revenu universel.
The correlation between full-time work and social protection is at the heart of debates on universal income.
'Au cœur des débats' (at the heart of the debates).
On assiste à une mutation profonde où le plein-temps n'est plus l'unique vecteur d'identité sociale.
We are witnessing a profound mutation where full-time work is no longer the sole vector of social identity.
Passive-like structure 'On assiste à'.
L'articulation entre temps de vie et plein-temps professionnel demeure une aporie pour beaucoup.
The link between life time and professional full-time remains a paradox for many.
Use of the philosophical term 'aporie'.
Le droit du travail s'efforce de réguler les dérives qui transforment le plein-temps en une disponibilité permanente.
Labor law strives to regulate the abuses that transform full-time work into permanent availability.
'S'efforcer de' (to strive to).
L'érosion du contrat à plein-temps soulève des questions cruciales sur le financement des retraites.
The erosion of the full-time contract raises crucial questions about the financing of pensions.
Metaphorical use of 'érosion'.
Il s'agit de repenser le plein-temps non plus comme une contrainte, mais comme un choix délibéré.
It is a matter of rethinking full-time work no longer as a constraint, but as a deliberate choice.
'Il s'agit de' (it is a matter of).
La pérennité du modèle social français repose sur la stabilité des emplois à plein-temps cotisants.
The sustainability of the French social model rests on the stability of contributing full-time jobs.
Technical term 'cotisants' (contributing to social security).
Synonyme
Gegenteile
Häufige Kollokationen
Häufige Phrasen
— To transition from part-time to full-time work.
Le patron m'a proposé de passer à plein-temps.
— A schedule that is completely full.
J'ai un emploi du temps à plein-temps avec mes cours.
— A full-time commitment to a cause or project.
C'est un engagement à plein-temps pour la cause animale.
— A stay-at-home mother (full-time mom).
Elle a choisi d'être maman à plein-temps.
— A stay-at-home father (full-time dad).
Il est devenu père à plein-temps après sa démission.
— Someone who volunteers for the equivalent of full-time hours.
Il est bénévole à plein-temps pour la Croix-Rouge.
— Someone whose primary profession and income come from art.
Elle est enfin devenue artiste à plein-temps.
— To hold a full-time position.
Il occupe un poste à plein-temps depuis trois ans.
Redewendungen & Ausdrücke
— To be in two places at once; often used to describe someone trying to do more than a full-time job.
Avec son plein-temps et ses enfants, elle est au four et au moulin.
idiomatic— To be very busy; to not be idle.
Depuis qu'il est à plein-temps, il ne chôme pas !
informal— To have a lot of work to do.
On a du pain sur la planche avec ce nouveau plein-temps.
common— The routine of a full-time office worker (subway, work, sleep).
C'est reparti pour le métro, boulot, dodo à plein-temps.
informal— To work like a slave or very hard.
Il travaille comme un forçat à plein-temps.
informal— To earn one's living (to earn one's crust).
Il faut bien travailler à plein-temps pour gagner sa croûte.
informal— To work extremely hard (to sweat blood and water).
Elle a sué sang et eau pour obtenir ce plein-temps.
literary— To be overwhelmed with work.
Je suis complètement débordé depuis mon passage à plein-temps.
common— To put in the required hours of a full-time job.
Il fait ses heures à plein-temps consciencieusement.
neutralWortfamilie
Substantive
Verben
Adjektive
Verwandt
Einprägen
Eselsbrücke
Think of a glass that is 'plein' (full) of 'temps' (time). If your glass is full, you have no room for other jobs!
Visuelle Assoziation
Imagine a 24-hour clock where a large slice (the workday) is colored in bright violet, representing the 'plein' (full) part of your 'temps' (time).
Word Web
Herausforderung
Try to use 'à plein-temps' in three different sentences describing three different dream jobs you would like to have.
Wortherkunft
From the French words 'plein' (full) and 'temps' (time). 'Plein' comes from the Latin 'plenus', and 'temps' comes from the Latin 'tempus'.
Ursprüngliche Bedeutung: Literally 'full time', referring to the occupation of the entirety of a standard working period.
Romance (Latin roots).Kultureller Kontext
Be aware that for some, 'plein-temps' is a sign of stability, while for others, it can represent a lack of flexibility or 'l'aliénation par le travail'.
Equivalent to the US/UK 'full-time', but often implies fewer hours (35 vs 40).
Summary
The term 'plein-temps' is essential for professional life in French. Always remember to use the preposition 'à' (travailler à plein-temps) and keep the hyphen. Example: 'Il a signé un contrat à plein-temps'.
- Plein-temps means full-time employment, usually 35 hours a week in France.
- It is most commonly used in the adverbial phrase 'à plein-temps'.
- It is the standard for stable careers and full social benefits.
- The opposite is 'mi-temps' (half-time) or 'temps partiel' (part-time).
Verwandte Inhalte
Mehr work Wörter
à distance
A2Aus der Ferne, ohne physische Anwesenheit vor Ort.
à durée déterminée
B1For a fixed or definite period; fixed-term.
à durée indéterminée
B1Unbefristet; auf unbestimmte Zeit abgeschlossen.
à la fin
A2Am Ende eines Zeitraums oder Ereignisses.
à la journée
B1Täglich oder für die Dauer oder Bezahlung eines einzelnen Tages.
à la semaine
B1Weekly, by the week.
à l'année
B1Annually, by the year.
à l'attention de
B1Zu Händen von (z. Hd.); wird in der formalen Korrespondenz verwendet, um den Empfänger anzugeben.
à l'avance
A2Etwas im Voraus oder vorher tun.
à l'issue de
A2Am Ende von; nach Abschluss von. Dieser Ausdruck wird oft in formellen Kontexten wie Besprechungen oder Berichten verwendet.