Termination of employment contract due to force majeure
Verified 23 April 2026 - Public Service / Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
In the event of force majeure, the employee's employment contract may be terminated without having to follow a particular procedure. The employee may receive compensation under certain conditions. We're taking a look at the regulations.
Force majeure is an event that fills all the 3 characteristics following:
- Cannot be expected (unpredictable)
- Cannot be overcome (irresistible)
- Outer fact beyond the control of the person concerned.
The continuation of the employment contract due to this event is made impossible. For example, the total destruction of the company following a fire without the possibility of resuming activity.
YesHowever, an employer may terminate an employment contract if the three criteria defining force majeure are met.
It informs the employee in writing of the breakdown. The employment contract is terminated immediately.
The employer shall provide the employee with the end of contract documents which are due to him.
FYI
If the employee considers that the conditions for a breach of contract due to force majeure are not met, he may refer the matter to the labor court.
The compensation that an employee may receive varies according to the nature of the employment contract. In some cases, they also differ if the rupture is due to a sinister or not.
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The employee is on a permanent contract
The breakup is related to a loss
The employee receives a compensatory allowance.
Except treaty provisions more favorable, its amount is equal to that of statutory severance pay and the compensatory notice allowance to which the employee could have claimed.
He also perceives compensatory leave with pay.
A simulator allows you to search for the collective agreement with the name of the company or its Siret number:
Other case
The employee receives only compensatory leave with pay.
He doesn't perceive severance pay, or compensation for notice. Some treaty provisions may provide for payment.
A simulator allows you to search for the collective agreement with the name of the company or its Siret number:
The employee is on a fixed-term contract
The breakup is related to a loss
The employee receives a compensatory allowance. Its amount is equal to the remuneration that the employee should have received until the end of the contract.
He also perceives compensatory leave with pay.
The termination indemnity (or precariousness premium) is not paid.
Other case
The employee receives only compensatory leave with pay.
The termination indemnity (or precariousness premium) is not paid.
The employee is on a temporary employment contract (temporary employee)
The employee receives compensatory leave with pay.
The end-of-mission allowance (or precariousness allowance) is not paid.
Please note
The breach of the contract of making available, that is to say the contract concluded between the company of temporary work and the user company, is not a case of force majeure.
The employee is on an apprenticeship contract
The employee receives compensatory leave with pay.
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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 public servants or contract workers of the fcivil service, the amount or payment of contributions social, wage or employer.
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The informants who answer you belong to the ministry in charge of labor.
Conditions of force majeure
Force majeure during an employment contract of indefinite duration (CDI)
Force majeure during a fixed-term employment contract (CDD)
Exclusion from the benefit of the Precariousness Premium (CDD)
Termination of a temporary employment contract due to force majeure
Exclusion from end-of-mission allowance (acting)
Termination of an apprenticeship contract for force majeure
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