France : judges open a path to circumvent the legal scale applicable to compensation for unfair dismissal

Several judges have objected to the implementation of a scale that caps the level of compensation an employer can be condemned to pay in the event of a dismissal judged to be without actual and serious basis. The measure is one of the most significant contained in French president Emmanuel Macron’s labour reform. The Court of Cassation appeared to have decided the debate, until the decision made by the appeal court in Reims on 25 September, the first of this kind taken by a court of appeal. While accepting the Court of Cassation’s reasoning, the appeal court raises doubts over the matter by opening up the possibility of the limit being applied on a case by case basis when an employee can prove that its application is harmful to them.
Enjoy this article for free while you’re in your trial period
You have access to our content for 1 month.

A scale to provide security for employers. The introduction of a scale for compensation employers can be condemned to fork out in the event of unfair dismissal was intended by the French government to provide security and predictability for employers when it comes to employment relationships. The scale establishes upper and lower limits for this compensation, which can vary depending on the size of the company in question (see article n°10330).

Questions about the conformity of the measure with

Do you have information to share with us?
What you absolutely must read this week
The essential content of the week selected by the editorial team.
See all
France: sectors feel economic slowdown to differing degrees
The latest data on France’s occupational sectors (branches professionnelles), covering the year 2023, show how employment trends are shaping workplace dynamics. After a more favourable period for...
United Kingdom: Parliament finally passes Employment Rights Bill
The UK Labour government's flagship reform of employment rights was passed by both houses on 16 December after a turbulent parliamentary process. The bill introduces numerous changes to labour...
18 December 2025
EU: social partners in telecoms sign joint statement on AI
On 16 December, the social partners in Europe's telecommunications sector unveiled a joint statement on artificial intelligence. They propose an action plan for skills and commit to raising...
18 December 2025
EU: MEPs demand directive on algorithmic management
Members of the European Parliament have called for a directive on algorithmic management. Such legislation would introduce obligations for companies to inform employees, assess health and safety...
17 December 2025
Most viewed articles of the month on mind HR
What readers clicked on the most last month.
What readers clicked on the most last month.
1
EU: list of new CSRD reporting standards finalised
On 4 December, the European Financial Reporting Advisory Group (EFRAG) presented the revised list of reporting indicators under the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), which...
5 December 2025
2
EU: co-legislators strike agreement on Omnibus Directive
The European Parliament and the Council of the EU reached an agreement on the night of 8 December on the weakening of the directives on corporate sustainability reporting (CSRD) and corporate...
9 December 2025
3
EU: Parliament formally adopts omnibus, diluting due diligence rules
On 16 December, the European Parliament formally approved the omnibus package amending the EU corporate sustainability reporting and due diligence directives. Their application has been pushed...
16 December 2025