The vast majority of French employees (91 per cent) who receive profit-sharing or incentive payments invest them into their company savings or collective pension plans (PEE or PER), according to a study by Natixis Interépargne in partnership with Toluna.

The research, based on responses from more than 1,200 employees, found that around 62 per cent have also contributed their own savings, with such plans representing an average of 28 per cent of respondents’ total financial assets.

The findings suggest that collective savings and pension schemes are moving beyond their traditional image as tax-efficient benefits, with 65 per cent of employees describing them as a “key investment tool” within their broader strategy.

This rises to nearly 80 per cent among more experienced savers.

Investment satisfaction levels were also high, with 84 per cent of participants stating they were as satisfied or more satisfied with the returns of their PEE or PER than with other investments, a figure that climbs to 99 per cent for the most financially confident respondents.

However, knowledge of the underlying investments remained limited, as only 19 per cent of employees said they had a precise understanding of the funds in their plans, and nearly half leave their savings in the same funds due to uncertainty about how to make changes.

Natixis Interépargne director of marketing and member of the executive committee, Patrick Behanzin, said the results reinforced the firm’s commitment to strengthening support for savers.

“The future of our business lies not only in fund performance but also in providing people with the understanding they need to take control of their savings,” he added.

The study also highlighted growing enthusiasm for managed solutions.

Among participants using “gestion pilotée” (life-cycle or guided management), 91 per cent reported satisfaction, citing peace of mind, financial optimisation, and simplicity as key benefits.

“When we offer simple, transparent and effective solutions, employees respond positively,” Behanzin highlighted.

“Managed solutions democratise access to professional investment management - and our goal is to make this the new standard for secure, efficient savings.”

Behanzin concluded that company savings and pension schemes have evolved into “a genuine wealth-building lever” for many French employees.

“Our ambition is that every employee, whatever their profile, can fully benefit from workplace savings to build their future,” he said.

The findings come after the French Prime Minister, Sébastien Lecornu, said he would propose to scrap the 2023 reform to increase the country’s retirement age from 62 to 64, at a cost of €2.2bn.

Lecornu, who was reappointed as Prime Minister by President Emmanuel Macron on Friday, 10 October, days after he resigned from the position, is facing a potential no-confidence vote.

The long-running pensions dispute is a contentious issue for the French government, which saw former Prime Minister, François Bayrou, ousted from his position in September.

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