Health: New limits on work stoppage duration from 1 September

France to Limit Sick Leave Duration from September 1 as Government Tightens Rules on Work Stoppages

New Sick Leave Rules to Begin in September

France is preparing to introduce stricter rules on the duration of sick leave prescriptions, marking an important change in the way work stoppages are regulated. From 1 September 2026, a first sick leave prescription will generally be limited to a maximum of 31 days, while an extension will be capped at 62 days. The measure was made official through a decree published in the Official Journal and forms part of the wider Social Security financing law for 2026.

The reform is aimed at giving a clearer legal framework to sick leave prescriptions. Until now, French law did not set a general maximum duration for an initial work stoppage, even though medical recommendations existed depending on the illness or health condition. The new decree changes that by introducing fixed ceilings that will apply to most medical work stoppages.

What the New Decree Says

Under the new rules, health professionals authorised to prescribe sick leave will have to respect two main limits. A first prescription cannot normally exceed 31 days. If the patient needs more time away from work, the extension of the sick leave cannot normally exceed 62 days.

These limits will apply to doctors, midwives and dental surgeons. This means that the reform is not limited only to general practitioners. It covers the main categories of health professionals who are legally allowed to issue work stoppage certificates.

However, the decree also allows exceptions. If the patient’s health condition justifies a longer period of absence, the prescriber may go beyond the standard ceiling. This safeguard is important because some illnesses, surgeries, mental health conditions or chronic diseases may require longer recovery times. The government’s aim is therefore not to ban longer sick leave entirely, but to make long prescriptions more clearly justified.

Why the Government Is Changing the Rules

The reform comes at a time when sick leave expenses have become a growing concern for the French social security system. Daily allowances paid during work stoppages represent a significant cost. With absences remaining high after the health crisis, the government has been looking for ways to better control spending while keeping support available for people who are genuinely unable to work.

Officials argue that clearer limits can help avoid overly long initial prescriptions and encourage more regular medical follow-up. Instead of issuing a very long sick leave certificate at the beginning, doctors may have to reassess the patient’s condition more frequently. In theory, this could help ensure that sick leave remains adapted to the patient’s actual recovery process.

For the government, the measure is also part of a broader effort to strengthen the management of health-related absences. Work stoppages have become a major issue not only for public finances, but also for employers, insurers and employees themselves. Long absences can make returning to work more difficult and may increase the risk of professional exclusion.

A Compromise Reached in Parliament

The final version of the measure is the result of a parliamentary compromise. Initially, the government wanted stricter and more flexible powers to set the limits by decree. The first proposal reportedly included a 15-day ceiling for initial sick leave prescribed in community medicine and a 30-day ceiling for sick leave prescribed in hospital.

Lawmakers finally chose a less restrictive approach. They opted for a one-month ceiling for a first prescription, regardless of where the sick leave is prescribed. This means that the same rule will apply whether the certificate is issued by a doctor in private practice or in a hospital setting.

By writing the one-month principle directly into the law, Parliament also limited the government’s room for manoeuvre. Instead of allowing the executive to decide freely by decree, lawmakers established the broad framework themselves. The decree published in the Official Journal now gives practical effect to that compromise by setting the exact limits at 31 and 62 days.

What Changes for Patients

For patients, the main change is that sick leave may be prescribed in shorter blocks than before. A person who is ill or recovering from an operation may still receive sick leave, but the initial certificate will usually be limited to about one month. If the person remains unable to work, they will need an extension, which will itself be limited to about two months.

This could mean more frequent contact with medical professionals, especially in cases where recovery takes longer than expected. Some patients may need to return to their doctor to review their condition and obtain a new certificate. For people with complex conditions, this follow-up could be useful. But for others, especially those with limited access to appointments, it may create additional administrative pressure.

The exception clause will therefore be closely watched. Patients with serious illnesses, long-term treatment needs or severe mental health conditions may require longer stoppages. The reform will depend heavily on how doctors apply the possibility of derogation and how social security bodies interpret justified exceptions.

What Changes for Doctors and Other Prescribers

For doctors, midwives and dental surgeons, the decree introduces a clearer prescribing framework. Health professionals will still assess the patient’s condition, but they will now have to consider the new legal ceilings when issuing sick leave.

This may change consultation practices. Doctors may have to explain to patients why an initial prescription cannot exceed the standard limit, unless a medical exception is justified. They may also need to document more clearly why a longer stoppage is necessary in exceptional cases.

Some professionals may see the change as a way to improve follow-up and avoid automatic long-term absences. Others may worry that it adds pressure to medical decision-making. In practice, the reform places doctors at the centre of a delicate balance: they must protect the patient’s health while also respecting a framework designed to control public spending.

Employers Also Affected by the Reform

Employers will also be affected by the new rules, although the decree is mainly aimed at prescriptions and social security payments. Shorter initial sick leave certificates could mean that employers receive more frequent updates about an employee’s absence. This may help companies plan replacements, workload distribution and return-to-work arrangements.

However, the reform does not eliminate the challenge of long-term absenteeism. Employees with serious health conditions may still be absent for months if medically justified. Employers will therefore still need to manage long absences carefully, especially in sectors where staffing shortages are already a problem.

The new rules may also encourage companies to invest more in prevention. If repeated extensions become more visible, employers may face stronger pressure to address workplace factors linked to illness, stress, burnout or musculoskeletal disorders.

Rising Absenteeism Behind the Political Debate

The timing of the reform is significant. Studies on absenteeism in the private sector show that sick leave remains at a high level in France. Long-term absences have become a particular concern because they account for a large share of total days lost, even if they represent a smaller proportion of total sick leave cases.

Mental health has also become a major factor. Depression, burnout and psychological distress are increasingly linked to long work stoppages. This trend has raised questions about working conditions, management practices, workload, job insecurity and the long-term effects of the Covid-19 period on employee health.

The government’s response focuses partly on regulating the duration of prescriptions. But many experts argue that limiting the length of certificates is only one part of the solution. If the causes of illness remain unchanged, employees may continue to need repeated sick leave, even under a stricter administrative framework.

Concern Over Mental Health Cases

One of the biggest questions is how the new rules will affect people suffering from mental health conditions. Unlike some physical injuries, psychological disorders may not follow a predictable recovery timeline. A patient with burnout or severe depression may require a gradual return to work, therapeutic part-time arrangements or a longer period of rest and treatment.

The 31-day and 62-day limits could lead to more frequent reassessments. This may be positive if it helps patients receive closer medical attention. But it could also create anxiety for employees who fear pressure to return before they are ready.

For this reason, the exception for the patient’s state of health will be especially important in mental health cases. Doctors will need enough flexibility to prescribe longer absences when necessary, while also supporting recovery and return-to-work planning.

Existing Rules on Daily Benefits Remain Relevant

The new decree does not replace all existing rules on sick leave benefits. Insured persons are still subject to broader social security limits, including the ceiling of 360 days of daily benefits over a three-year period in ordinary cases. The new measure mainly concerns the maximum duration of each prescription or extension, not the total possible duration of compensated illness over several years.

This distinction matters. A patient may still receive multiple extensions if their condition requires it. The reform does not mean that sick leave will end automatically after one or two months. Rather, it means that each stage of the sick leave process will be more tightly framed and may require renewed medical justification.

A Measure Between Cost Control and Health Protection

Supporters of the reform argue that it brings order to a system where long prescriptions could sometimes be issued without enough reassessment. They say the measure will encourage better follow-up, reduce unnecessary spending and help social security funds focus resources on patients who truly need support.

Critics may argue that the reform risks treating sick leave primarily as a budget problem. They may also warn that administrative ceilings should not interfere with medical judgment. For people with serious illnesses, repeated appointments and paperwork can be stressful, especially when access to healthcare is already difficult in some areas.

The success of the reform will therefore depend on implementation. If exceptions are applied fairly and doctors retain real medical discretion, the measure may become a tool for better monitoring. If it is applied too rigidly, it could create hardship for vulnerable patients.

What Happens Next

The new sick leave limits will come into force on 1 September 2026. From that date, first prescriptions and extensions issued by authorised health professionals will need to follow the new ceilings, except where the patient’s health condition justifies a longer period.

The coming months will be important for health professionals, employers, insurers and employees. Doctors will need guidance on how to apply exceptions. Employers will need to understand what the new certificates mean in practice. Patients will need clear information so they do not confuse the prescription ceiling with a complete ban on longer sick leave.

The reform marks a significant shift in France’s approach to work stoppages. It reflects the government’s desire to control rising sick leave costs, but it also raises broader questions about workplace health, mental health, medical autonomy and the balance between financial discipline and patient protection.

A New Chapter in France’s Sick Leave Policy

France’s decision to limit sick leave prescriptions to 31 days initially and 62 days for extensions is more than a technical administrative change. It is part of a wider debate on how modern welfare systems should respond to rising absenteeism, long-term illness and changing attitudes toward work and health.

From September, sick leave will remain a right for those who are medically unable to work. But it will be more closely structured, with shorter prescription periods and more regular review. Whether this will reduce unnecessary absences without harming patients will depend on how carefully the new rules are applied in real life.

For now, the message is clear: France is not abolishing long sick leave, but it is making it harder for long work stoppages to be prescribed without renewed medical justification. The reform places medical follow-up, cost control and patient protection at the centre of a debate that is likely to continue well beyond September.