You greet a French colleague on their first day back after a holiday and say “Hey, how was it?” They smile, answer briefly, and move on. Later you find out that in this office, everyone shakes hands or does the bise every single morning — and you skipped it without realising. Small things like this define how you are perceived in a French workplace long before your professional performance does.
The morning greeting: non-negotiable in most offices
In many French workplaces, greeting each colleague individually at the start of the day is a genuine social expectation, not just a courtesy. This can mean shaking hands, doing the bise (cheek kisses, usually one to two depending on region), or at minimum saying Bonjour clearly to each person as you arrive.
The rule of thumb:
- First meeting or formal context: handshake
- Established colleagues in most regions: bise (note: this has become less universal since 2020, and many offices have shifted to simple verbal greetings)
- Always: say Bonjour individually — not a general wave to the room
Failing to greet colleagues in the morning is noticed and remembered. In French culture, it can signal coldness or disrespect more than in many other work cultures. If you arrive late and the team is already in a meeting, a quiet Bonjour à tous (Good morning everyone) as you sit down is always appropriate.
Vous vs tu: the most consequential decision in professional French
The choice between the formal vous and the informal tu is one of the defining markers of French workplace culture. Getting it wrong — especially using tu too quickly with someone senior — can damage your professional image before you have even demonstrated your work.
The default rule
Use vous with everyone you meet professionally until they invite you to switch to tu. This includes your direct manager, clients, external contacts, and colleagues in other departments you are meeting for the first time.
When tu becomes acceptable
The switch from vous to tu is initiated by the more senior or older person in the relationship. They may say On peut se tutoyer (We can use tu with each other) — that is your green light. Until then, stick to vous.
Some companies — often startups or international firms — have a culture-wide tu policy. This will usually be clear from day one. Even then, vous may still apply with the CEO or external clients.
Practical implications
The vous/tu choice affects verb conjugation throughout every sentence. When you are uncertain, vous is never wrong — it may just be more formal than necessary. The reverse is not true: tu can easily offend.
For the broader context of formal versus informal French, the guide on slang vs formal French explains the full spectrum.
Names and titles: how to address people properly
In English-speaking offices, first names are standard almost immediately. In France, especially in traditional sectors, it is safer to begin with Monsieur or Madame followed by the last name: Monsieur Dupont, Madame Lefebvre.
Academic and professional titles are used more consistently in France than in most English-speaking countries. A doctor is addressed as Docteur. A lawyer as Maître. If someone holds a title, using it is a sign of respect, not stuffiness.
In written communication, the opening of a formal email does not use the person’s first name unless you know them well. Monsieur Dupont, or simply Monsieur, is standard. See the full email guide at how to write a professional email in French for complete salutation conventions.
Phone calls: announce yourself immediately
When you call someone in a French professional context, the expected opening is:
Bonjour, [Prénom Nom], de la société [X]. Je souhaitais vous parler de…
(Good morning, [First name Last name], from [company X]. I wanted to speak to you about…)
Do not wait for the other person to prompt you. Announcing your name and company at the very start is standard practice. Diving straight into your request without an introduction is considered abrupt.
If you reach voicemail: leave a clear, brief message with your name, company, the reason for your call, and a callback number. Hanging up without leaving a message is generally seen as unhelpful.
Office communication: email norms
French professional emails follow rigid conventions that differ significantly from informal English email culture. The key points:
- Opening: Always start with a proper salutation. Bonjour Madame Lefebvre, for someone you know; Madame, for someone you do not.
- Tone: Formal throughout. Contractions like j’ai (I have) are fine, but slang, exclamation marks, and emoji have no place in professional emails.
- Closing: Use a standard formula. Cordialement is the safe all-purpose sign-off. Bien cordialement is slightly warmer. Bonne journée (Have a good day) is common at end-of-day emails to contacts you know.
- Response time: Replying within 24 business hours is expected for most professional emails. Silence for several days without explanation is unprofessional.
What to say — and not say — in meetings
French meetings tend to follow a more structured protocol than casual English-speaking equivalents. A few etiquette points:
- Do not interrupt someone mid-sentence. Wait for them to finish even if you disagree.
- If you want to speak and cannot find a gap, a slight lean forward or Si je peux me permettre… (If I may…) signals that you have something to add.
- Do not check your phone during a meeting. In many French offices, this is considered a major discourtesy.
- If you are presenting, prepare thoroughly. Being asked a question you cannot answer is more damaging in a French professional context than in many others — it is seen as insufficient preparation rather than an honest admission.
For specific phrases to use when taking the floor, agreeing, or pushing back professionally, see the dedicated guide on speaking professionally in French meetings.
The dress code: more conservative than you expect
French workplaces — particularly in Paris, in law, finance, consulting, and public administration — tend toward conservative professional dress. Smart casual in a French office usually means more formal than smart casual in London or New York. When in doubt, overdress for the first week and calibrate from there.
French professionals pay close attention to how they look, and dressing carelessly can read as a lack of seriousness. This is not about fashion — it is about respect for the professional context.
Gifts and social situations
If you are invited to a French colleague’s home for a professional-social event, bringing a small gift is appropriate: a bottle of wine, quality chocolates, or flowers (avoid chrysanthemums — they are associated with funerals). At the office, bringing back a regional food specialty after a trip is a common and appreciated gesture.
Business gifts between companies are acceptable but should be modest. Very expensive gifts can feel inappropriate in a formal professional context and may conflict with company ethics policies.
Building on the fundamentals
Workplace etiquette is inseparable from language. The right level of formality, the right verb tense, and the right expressions all work together to communicate respect and professionalism. Once you have these conventions down, focus on the vocabulary and phrasing covered in 20 essential professional French expressions and the complete guide to polite formal communication.
The goal is not to be perfect from day one — it is to show that you are genuinely engaging with the culture, not just the language.