CDD Hôtellerie Restauration Template for France

When you operate in France's hospitality and restaurant sector, you need specialized employment contracts that comply with both general labor law and sector-specific regulations. A CDD Hôtellerie Restauration (fixed-term contract for hospitality and restaurants) provides the legal framework for temporary employment relationships while protecting both employers and employees under French law.

When do you need this document?

You require this contract when hiring temporary staff in hotels, restaurants, cafés, or other hospitality establishments. The hospitality sector experiences significant seasonal fluctuations and temporary staffing needs that justify fixed-term employment. You'll use this document for summer seasonal workers at beach resorts, additional waitstaff during busy periods, temporary kitchen staff during chef absences, or event-specific personnel for conferences and celebrations. The contract is essential when you need to replace an employee on leave or handle unexpected increases in business activity that require additional workforce for a defined period.

Key legal considerations

Your CDD must clearly specify the precise reason for using fixed-term employment, as French law restricts when you can use these contracts instead of permanent ones. The contract must include mandatory information such as job description, qualification level according to the Convention HCR, exact start and end dates, trial period conditions, and complete compensation details including any sector-specific benefits. You must respect maximum duration limits and renewal restrictions under Article L1242-1 of the Code du travail. The agreement should address working time arrangements, which are particularly complex in hospitality due to irregular hours, split shifts, and weekend work. You must also include provisions for end-of-contract compensation and ensure compliance with collective bargaining agreements that may provide additional benefits beyond legal minimums.

Legal requirements in France

French law requires your CDD Hôtellerie Restauration to comply with the Code du travail and the Convention collective nationale des hôtels, cafés, restaurants. You must justify the use of fixed-term employment through specific authorized cases under Article L1242-2, such as seasonal activity increases or temporary replacements. The contract must be written in French and signed before the employee begins work. You're required to include all mandatory clauses specified in Article L1242-12, including precise job duties, workplace location, applicable collective agreement provisions, and trial period terms. The agreement must respect sector-specific working time regulations under Article L3121-1, including provisions for split shifts and Sunday work common in hospitality. You must also ensure compliance with end-of-contract indemnity requirements under Article L1243-1, which may differ from general CDD rules due to sector-specific conventions.