Mistake on your French payslip? How to check it and get paid

Payroll errors happen, especially after a change: minimum wage increase, new bonus, sick leave. Most are honest mistakes fixed on the next payslip.

Updated on 13 October 2026

What to check

1. Your hourly rate: base salary divided by hours paid (151.67 hours a month for a 35-hour week) must be at least the SMIC and the minimum of your collective agreement.
2. Overtime: paid with a 25% premium for hours 36 to 43 of the week and 50% beyond, unless an agreement sets another rate (never below 10%).
3. Bonuses set by your contract or collective agreement, such as a seniority bonus (prime d’ancienneté).
4. Absences and sick leave: the deduction must match the days actually missed.
5. Each contribution: base × rate = amount, no duplicate lines.
6. Net pay matches the transfer to your bank account.

How to get it fixed

1. Ask the payroll department (service paie) or your manager.
2. Send a written request, ideally by registered letter (lettre recommandée avec accusé de réception).
3. Ask employee representatives (CSE) or a union for help.
4. Contact the labour inspectorate (inspection du travail).
5. As a last resort, go to the employment tribunal (conseil de prud’hommes).

Time limit: 3 years

You can claim unpaid wages for the last 3 years (article L3245-1 of the French Labour Code).

Read next

• Overtime pay in France: rates, calculation and unpaid hours
• Minimum wage in France (SMIC): how to check you are paid enough
• French payslip explained: how to read your bulletin de paie

Also answers: wrong salary france employer, unpaid wages france, payslip mistake france what to do.

This guide gives general information about French employment law. It is not legal advice: your collective agreement (convention collective) or contract may give you more. If in doubt, ask your payroll department, an employee representative, the labour inspectorate or a lawyer.