Seasonal Work for Seniors and Retirees: Preparing Your Season Well

What is meant by seasonal work

Seasonal work covers tasks that recur every year at a more or less fixed time, because of the rhythm of nature or of collective habits: harvests, the grape picking, the summer or winter tourist season, the end-of-year festivities. The contract is most often a fixed-term one, although some establishments also offer seasonal contracts that can be renewed from one year to the next.

For a senior, the appeal lies in concentrating activity into a few months and having the rest of the year free. The demand lies in the pace: seasons are often dense, with long hours and few days off at the peak of activity.

The main sectors that recruit by the season

Three areas come up most often.

• Tourism and leisure: holiday villages, campsites, mountain or seaside resorts and theme parks. Jobs range from reception to maintenance, including catering and childcare.
• Catering and hospitality: serving in the dining room or on the terrace, washing up, kitchen help, housekeeping and breakfast service.
• Farming: fruit and vegetable harvests, grape picking, packing, pruning and picking. Tasks vary with the crop and the region.

Other sectors add occasional needs: end-of-year retail, logistics, cultural events and ski lifts. Each sector has its own habits, hours and level of physical effort.

Choosing tasks that match your experience and strength

The sensible approach is to link the offer to what you already know how to do and to what your body will accept. A former shopkeeper will feel at ease at a campsite's welcome desk, a former administrative manager may prefer reception or handling bookings, and someone used to gardening will find a place maintaining green spaces.

Then compare the practical constraints:

• repetitive movements, such as bending for long periods during picking;
• split shifts, typical of catering;
• standing for long periods or carrying loads;
• heat or cold depending on the location.

A less glamorous job that is compatible with your health is better than an attractive one you cannot sustain until the end of the season.

The calendar: when to look and when to apply

Recruitment takes place before the period of activity. For a summer season, applications often open in winter or early spring, and for a winter season in the mountains, in autumn. In farming, needs depend on when crops ripen and are sometimes settled only a few weeks beforehand.

It helps to contact employers before their busy period, stating the exact dates you are available. Some farming bodies publish a calendar of tasks by crop and by month, which helps you spot when people are wanted in your region.

An early, precise application accompanied by a short CV stands out more than a last-minute reply.

The seasonal contract and what it involves

In France the contract must be in writing and state the duties, the length or period, the pay, the working hours, the place of work and the collective agreement that applies. It may include a renewal clause for the following season, which offers some continuity without an absolute guarantee.

Several points are worth checking with the employer: how pay is calculated, any overtime, weekly days off, whether meals and work clothing are provided, and paid-leave entitlements. As a general rule, a seasonal contract does not carry the same end-of-contract payment as an ordinary fixed-term one, but this depends on the agreement that applies.

Always keep a signed copy and your payslips.

Housing, often the deciding question

In resorts, on the coast or in isolated farming areas, finding somewhere to live is sometimes the main difficulty of a season. Some employers offer accommodation on site, while others point you towards shared housing or public schemes.

In France there are housing aids and solutions aimed at seasonal workers: temporary housing platforms, dedicated residences and, for some farm seasonal workers, financial help subject to conditions. Availability varies by area and time of year.

Have the type of accommodation, any price, the distance to the workplace and the conditions for staying there on days off confirmed in writing. Also check accessibility if you have mobility difficulties.

Lasting the whole season: pace, health and recovery

Most often the difficulty is not the first week but the seventh. A season strings together long days, weekends worked and peaks in visitor numbers. A few precautions help you last.

• Plan for suitable shoes, comfortable work clothes and protection against sun or cold.
• Organise meals and sleep as seriously as the job itself.
• Report any pain or unusual tiredness to management quickly rather than waiting for exhaustion.
• If possible, get medical advice before choosing a very physical activity.

If the season proves too heavy, discussing an adjustment to the role is better than an abrupt break.

Fitting into the team and making use of your experience

Seasonal teams are often young, renewed every year and trained quickly. An older worker brings experience of service, customer relations or handling the unexpected, which reassures managers.

A few attitudes make integration easier: agreeing to be trained in the house methods even if you have worked elsewhere, asking how newcomers are welcomed, and making yourself available to guide beginners when the manager wishes.

This complementarity between generations is an asset for establishments and can help your contract to be renewed the following year.

Example of a first season in a holiday village

As an illustration, imagine a retired teacher who plans a summer season in a holiday village. From February they browse the recruitment pages of several groups, spot posts in catering, early years care or reception, and send an application stating their dates of availability.

Before accepting, they ask in writing about hours, days off, accommodation and the amount of pay. They tell their pension fund and check how their seasonal earnings add to their pension.

This example is not a promise of recruitment: each employer decides according to its own needs.

Retirement and the season: check the rules before signing

If you draw a pension, taking a seasonal job falls under the French rules on combining employment and retirement. Depending on your age, contribution record and the pensions already paid, the combination can be full or capped. These rules may change over the coming years.

It is therefore advisable to check with your pension fund before committing, to report the return to work within the set deadlines and to keep your payslips. A single contract of a few weeks can have different effects from regular activity over several years.