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Soon, a four-day work week on the entire Paris metro!

undefined undefined 12 février 2025 undefined 12h00

undefined undefined 12 février 2025 undefined 13h22

The Editor

© Antonin Albert / Shutterstock

One year ago, the RATP decided to test a four-day work week for its employees, focusing on three lines for the trial. And it seems the project has been a hit, as the Parisian transport authority announced that it is expanding the process to all its lines, starting this Monday, February 10th!

At the beginning of 2025, RATP announced their plan to create 5,500 new positions, including 3,800 permanent contracts. This massive operation aims to boost the workforce and improve the quality of the network. To stack the odds in their favor, the company has decided to offer highly attractive working conditions for its staff. The focus of this new organization is to promote a true balance between personal and professional life, particularly through the implementation of a four-day work week across the entire network.


Rethinking Working Conditions

Last year, as the absenteeism rate at RATP was soaring, the company chose to take stock. And one thing is certain, they quickly realized that many of their agents were juggling.unfavorable working conditions : irregular hours, no remote work, children to care for (for 60%), or even significant distance between home and work – over 20 km for 50% of them, over 40 km for 17%, without the possibility of using public transport due to the hours.

Without a second thought, the company headed by Jean Castex quickly decided to take action to improve things. Thus, at the end of January 2024, in partnership with labor organizations and occupational medicine, RATP will launch a 4-day workweek. Based on voluntary participation, 180 agents from lines 5, 7, 9, and RER B have been able to change their schedules and work habits. This was a relative first success, which encouraged the various stakeholders to open up this experiment a few months later to lines 3, 8, 13, and 11, as well as RER A.


A real success soon to be widespread

And it’s safe to say that the 300 agents currently involved in this system are absolutely convinced. According to reports...orts, 79% of employees testers say they are satisfied. 94% feel healthier and less stressed. And finally, 90% are ready to recommend the system to their colleagues. That's exciting! It didn’t take much for RATP to see it as a clear sign of victory and decide to expand the system to its entire network.

So, on Monday, February 10, 3 out of 4 union organizations for the agents gave their agreement (only the CGT was missing). Starting this month, and on a voluntary basis, any agent can normally submit a request to switch to a 4-day work week, without a reduction in working hours, of course. The request will also need to be approved by the line manager. But be careful, not all agents will be able to benefit from this, since to ensure the continuity of all services, some must remain on a 5-day schedule. Hats off to them!