Legal Obligations

Employers: Your Obligations When Hiring Your First Employee

LE
Lina Evrard
· 6 min read · Updated in 2026

Have you just taken the step of hiring your first employee? Congratulations! But be aware that this comes with new legal responsibilities. Here’s a reminder of the main obligations you need to comply with.

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Mandatory Notices

Every employer must ensure that the required information is clearly displayed in the workplace, in an easily accessible location (such as the break room), or made available online.

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Mandatory Registers

Employee Register

Tenez un registre contenant les informations des salariés par ordre d'embauche. Nos services peuvent vous aider à le générer sous format dématérialisé, sauf pour les stagiaires non rémunérés.

Single Occupational Risk Assessment Document (DUERP)

The DUERP is a mandatory document that must be established within your company. It is an internal assessment designed to inform employees of all the health risks they may be exposed to at work.

⚠️ To anticipate
Le DUERP doit être tenu à disposition des salariés, du CSE (s’il existe), de l’inspection du travail et de toute personne justifiant d’un intérêt légitime. Un portail national de dépôt était prévu par la loi, mais il n’est pas encore opérationnel en 2026. En cas de DUERP manquant ou non mis à jour, l’entreprise risque une amende pouvant aller jusqu’à 7 500 € (personne morale), voire 3 000 € en récidive (personne physique), ainsi qu’une amende administrative jusqu’à 4 000 € par salarié depuis juin 2026.
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Account Setup

Make sure to set up accounts with the following organizations:

  • Net-entreprises
  • OPCO (depending on your company's business activity)
  • Occupational health service (the one closest to the establishment employing the employees)
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Disability, Life Insurance & Health Insurance

Disability & Life Insurance

Mandatory for executive employees, and depending on the applicable collective agreement for non-executive employees. Employees cannot opt out of coverage.

Health Insurance

Every employer must offer health insurance coverage to their employees. Employees may refuse to join under certain conditions.

⚠️ Key Point
The DUEs (unilateral employer decisions) for employee benefits and health insurance plans must be formally established. If they are missing, and in the event of a URSSAF audit, the employer's share of the contributions may be subject to adjustment.
Take these requirements seriously to avoid penalties and ensure a compliant and secure working environment for your employees. If you are unsure about any of these obligations, this is precisely the kind of situation where dedicated support can make all the difference.
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