End-of-contract documents for the employee
At the end of the employment contract, the employer must provide the employee with several mandatory documents. These documents serve to certify work activity, verify payments made and enable the employee to claim their rights, particularly for unemployment benefits.
In a nutshell
- In France, the employer must provide end-of-contract documents on the employee’s departure date.
- Three documents are mandatory: the work certificate, the statement of settled accounts and the France Travail certificate.
- Additional documents may be required, particularly in cases involving employee savings schemes.
- Late or incomplete delivery of these documents may lead to disputes.
Which documents must be provided to the employee?
At the end of the contract, the employer must provide the employee with:
- The work certificate.
- The receipt for the statement of settled accounts.
- The France Travail certificate.
- The summary statement of employee savings, if a scheme exists within the business.
These documents must be provided at the time of the contract’s end, in principle upon completion of the notice period.
What is the receipt for the statement of settled accounts?
The receipt for the statement of settled accounts summarizes all sums paid to the employee upon termination. It notably includes the remaining salary due, bonuses, holiday pay and, where applicable, severance or notice pay.
Content of the document
The document provides a precise inventory of the amounts actually paid to the employee at the time of their departure.
Employee signature
The employee may choose to sign or refuse to sign the document. The absence of a signature does not block the payment of the sums.
Deadlines for contestation
If the receipt is signed, the employee has six months to contest it.
In the absence of a signature, common law limitation periods apply (up to three years depending on the nature of the claims).
Template for statement of settled accounts
A template for the statement of settled accounts is available on the Service-Public website.
What is a work certificate?
The work certificate is provided regardless of the reason for termination. It allows the employee to provide proof of their professional experience and specifies:
- Start and end dates.
- Positions held.
- Corresponding periods for each position.
It may also mention the continuation of health and disability insurance coverage. This document must remain neutral and must not contain any information prejudicial to the employee.
Work certificate template
A work certificate template is available on the Service-Public website.
What is the France Travail certificate?
The France Travail certificate is essential for the employee to claim their unemployment benefits. It must be provided to the employee and transmitted to France Travail.
It is issued at the end of the contract, including in cases where the employee is exempt from serving their notice period. Even if the employee is not immediately eligible for unemployment benefits, this document remains mandatory.
Find the template on France TravailWhat is the summary statement of employee savings?
When a business has an employee savings scheme in place, a summary document must be provided to the employee.
It specifies the amounts saved and the specific schemes involved.
More information on employee savings plan
At a glance
This page explains the end-of-contract documents to be provided to the employee and the related employer obligations in France. It is based on institutional sources such as he French Labour Code and Service-public.fr. It presents information covering mandatory documents, delivery procedures, and the time limits for challenging or using them. It uses the example of a company providing an employee with their work certificate, final settlement receipt and France Travail certificate at the end of the employment contract.