Can an employer automatically retire an employee?
Verified 17 November 2025 - Public Service / Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
Yes, your employer can automatically retire if you have reached, including before your employment, the age of 70 years.
If you have between 67 and 69 years, your employer may propose to retire, but you are not obligated to accept.
Please note
No collective agreement or agreement providing for the possibility of compulsory retirement of an employee at an age below 67 years may be signed or extended.
Between 67 and 69 years
Your employer can question you in writing your intention to voluntarily leave the company to retire or continue to benefit from your retirement.
This request is addressed to you 3 months before your 67e birthday.
You have 1 month to give your answer to your employer.
Your situation varies depending on whether you agree to retire or not:
In the event of an accepted retirement
There is no procedure imposed on the employer to formally notify you of your retirement, unless a collective agreement provides for it.
However, if you are protected employeeHowever, your employer must obtain permission from the labor inspectorate before retiring.
Your retirement date is set taking into account a notice period the duration of which is identical to the period of notice provided in the event of dismissal.
You can calculate the notice period to be respected by means of a simulator:
In the event of a rejected retirement
Your employer cannot automatically retire you.
However, it can ask you again, according to the same procedure, every year, until your 69e birthday included.
FYI
In the event of retirement when the conditions are not met, the termination of the employment contract constitutes a dismissal on personal grounds.
From 70 years
Your employer can automatically retire you. Your agreement is not not necessary.
There is no procedure imposed on the employer to formally notify you of your retirement, unless a collective agreement provides for it.
However, if you are protected employeeHowever, your employer must obtain permission from the labor inspectorate before retiring.
Your retirement date is set taking into account a notice period the duration of which is identical to the period of notice provided in the event of dismissal.
You can calculate the notice period to be respected by means of a simulator:
Calculate the notice of retirement
FYI
In the event of retirement when the conditions are not met, the termination of the employment contract constitutes a dismissal on personal grounds.
Who can help me?
Find who can answer your questions in your region
Administrative information by phone - Allô Service Public
For more information on this subject, you can contact Allô Service Public.
Attention: the service does not have access to users' personal files and therefore cannot provide information on their progress.
He does not respond questions on unemployment compensation and approaches to the France Labor (formerly Pôle emploi), the officials or contract workers of the fcivil service, the amount or payment of contributions social, wage or employer.
- Lundi : de 08h30 à 17h30
- Mardi : de 08h30 à 12h15
- Mercredi : de 08h30 à 12h15
- Jeudi : de 08h30 à 17h30
- Vendredi : de 13h00 à 16h15
- Service Free
The informants who answer you belong to the ministry in charge of labor.
Annual interrogation procedure of the employee, notice, irregular retirement
Annual interview procedure of the employee (deadlines for the request and for the response)
Online service