Working day, working day, free day, calendar day: what are the differences?
Verified 30 April 2026 - Public Service / Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
The days can be counted in working days, working days, clear days or calendar days. We explain the method to follow.
A working day is any day of the week that can be legally worked, with the exception of the weekly rest day (usually Sunday) and holidays usually not worked.
We count them 6 weekly (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, generally).
The count of a holiday during the employee's holidays depends on what is usually enforced in the company: day unemployed or day worked.
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Public holiday usually off
Example No 1 : an employee is on leave from 13 to 18 July 2026 and on 14 July is usually unemployed in the company.
On July 14 falling on a Tuesday, it is not counted: the employee poses 5 days (Monday 13, Wednesday 15, Thursday 16, Friday 17 and Saturday 18 July).
Example No. 2 : an employee is on leave from 9 to 14 November 2026 and on 11 November is usually unemployed in the company.
November 11 falling on a Wednesday, it is not counted: the employee poses 5 days (Monday 9, Tuesday 10, Thursday 12, Friday 13 and Saturday 14 November).
Public holiday usually worked
Example No 1 : an employee is on leave from 13 to 18 July 2026 and 14 July is usually worked in the company.
On July 14 falling on a Tuesday, it is counted: the employee poses 6 days (Monday 13, Tuesday 14, Wednesday 15, Thursday 16, Friday 17 and Saturday 18 July).
Example No. 2 : an employee is on leave from 9 to 14 November 2026 and 11 November is usually worked in the company.
November 11 falling on a Wednesday, it is counted: the employee poses 6 days (Monday 9, Tuesday 10, Wednesday 11, Thursday 12, Friday 13 and Saturday 14 November).
A working day is the days actually worked in a company or administration (usually Monday to Friday inclusive), except for holidays usually not worked.
Some shops are open on Saturday and closed on Monday. Their working days will therefore be from Tuesday to Saturday inclusive.
We count them 5 weekly (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, generally).
The count of a holiday during the employee's holidays depends on what is usually enforced in the company: day unemployed or day worked.
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Public holiday usually off
Example No 1 : an employee is on leave from 13 to 17 July 2026 and on 14 July is usually unemployed in the company.
On July 14th falling on a Tuesday, the company opening from Monday to Friday, it is not counted: the employee poses 4 days (Monday 13, Wednesday 15, Thursday 16 and Friday 17 July).
Example No. 2 : an employee is on leave from 9 to 13 November 2026 and on 11 November is usually unemployed in the company.
On November 11 falling on a Wednesday, the company opening from Monday to Friday, it is not counted: the employee poses 4 days (Monday 9, Tuesday 10, Thursday 12 and Friday 13 November).
Public holiday usually worked
Example No 1 : an employee is on leave from 13 to 17 July 2026 and 14 July is usually worked in the company.
On July 14, falling on a Tuesday, the company opening from Monday to Friday, it is counted: the employee poses 5 days (Monday 13, Tuesday 14, Wednesday 15, Thursday 16 and Friday 17 July).
Example No. 2 : an employee is on leave from 9 to 13 November 2026 and 11 November is usually worked in the company.
On November 11 falling on a Wednesday, the company opening from Monday to Friday, it is counted: the employee poses 5 days (Monday 9, Tuesday 10, Wednesday 11, Thursday 12 and Friday 13 November).
A hard day of 0h to 24h.
A time limit thus calculated does not take into account the day of the decision giving rise to the time limit or the day of the expiry date.
If the deadline ends on a Saturday or Sunday, it is postponed to Monday.
If the deadline ends on a public holiday, it is postponed by one day. If a deadline ends on a public holiday, it is postponed to the following Monday.
Example :
A deadline of 10 clear days is calculated from Tuesday, December 15, 2026:
- The day of the original date of the deadline is not taken into account, so the count starts on Wednesday, December 16, 2026
- The deadline ends in principle on Friday 25 December 2026
- Friday, December 25, 2026 being a holiday, the deadline is postponed
- As the deadline cannot be extended to Saturday 26 or Sunday 27 December 2026, it is extended to Monday 28 December 2026.
A calendar day means any calendar day of the calendar year, including holidays and unemployed persons, from 1er January until December 31, that is, 365 days a year (366 days for a leap year) and 7 days a week.
In summary: how to calculate a delay when there is a holiday?
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How to calculate a delay when there is a holiday?
Here's how to calculate a 7-day delay, depending on whether you're talking about calendar days, straight days, working days or working days. In our example, the deadline starts on a Monday and there is a public holiday (Wednesday).
- Deadline in calendar day: Monday + Tuesday + Wednesday + Thursday + Friday + Saturday + Sunday
Every day counts.
- Deadline counted in clear day: Monday + Tuesday + Wednesday even if it is a holiday + Thursday + Friday + Saturday + Monday of the following week.
Postponed to the next day if the 7th day falls on a Saturday, Sunday (as is the case in our example) or a holiday.
- Deadline in working days: Monday + Tuesday + Thursday + Friday + Saturday + Monday of the following week + Tuesday of the following week.
There are no Sundays or public holidays.
- Deadline in working day: Monday + Tuesday + Thursday + Friday + Monday of the following week + Tuesday of the following week + Wednesday of the following week.
There is no public holiday (here Wednesday), Saturday or Sunday.
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