France urged to compensate lost sick leave pay in Europe
France's sick leave system, a combination of employer and social security payments, remains unchanged as of mid-2025, requiring medical justification for employees to receive paid time off [3][4]. This system aligns with EU rules, which do not prescribe uniform national sick leave policies but mandate protection against dismissal due to illness and minimum rest and health protections [3].
Recently, France has introduced new employer-paid leave entitlements starting from July 2025. These changes extend paid leave rights for male employees attending medically assisted conception appointments and for employees attending mandatory adoption interviews [1]. Despite these expansions, France's sick leave provisions remain intact and do not appear to conflict with EU directives.
However, the European Commission has raised concerns about the lack of a national legal mechanism for employees to carry over their paid leave when they fall ill in France [June 18, 2025]. This issue, if unaddressed, could potentially create confusion between paid leave and sick leave, a problem that the Commission has highlighted [June 18, 2025].
The Commission has also emphasised the importance of at least four weeks of paid annual leave, as established by a 2003 directive [June 18, 2025]. Unions in France have expressed opposition to the government's plan to extend the number of carve-out days, fearing it could lead to more vulnerable employees not taking their sick leave [unspecified source].
In light of these concerns, the French government is considering measures that could potentially affect the sick leave benefits of employees. It is important to note that, since 2003, a European directive has guaranteed a fundamental right to at least four weeks of paid annual leave [June 18, 2025].
In summary, France's sick leave system continues to operate as usual, with paid time off granted when medically justified. New employer-paid leave entitlements have been introduced, but they do not redefine or replace sick leave provisions. The European Commission's concerns revolve around the lack of a national legal mechanism for employees to carry over their paid leave when they fall ill, and the potential confusion between paid leave and sick leave in France. The French government is currently considering solutions to address these issues while maintaining compliance with EU directives.
- The European Commission has expressed concerns about the lack of a national legal mechanism for employees to carry over their paid leave when they fall ill in France, highlighting the potential confusion between paid leave and sick leave.
- The French government is considering measures that could potentially affect the sick leave benefits of employees, focusing on addressing the concerns raised by the European Commission and maintaining compliance with EU directives.
- Discussions surrounding policy-and-legislation regarding health-and-wellness in the workplace, such as the carry-over of paid leave for sick employees, have been trending topics in general-news, with politics playing a significant role in shaping the future of workplace-wellness policies in France.
