The French government has announced plans to extend the waiting period for sick leave compensation from one day to three in an effort to reduce absenteeism within the civil service.
The proposed measures are part of a broader strategy to achieve a public deficit target of 5% of GDP by 2025. The government aims to address the rising costs associated with health-related absences, which amounted to 15.1 billion euros in 2022.
Under the new policy, civil servants will only receive compensation for sick leave starting from the fourth day of absence, and the compensation will be reduced to 90% for subsequent days of leave. Exceptions will be made for specific circumstances such as pregnancy-related illnesses and long-term health issues.
The government argues that these changes are necessary to align public sector practices with those of the private sector, where absenteeism rates are lower. However, public employee unions have strongly criticized the government's approach, viewing it as a regression in workers' rights and a disregard for civil servants.
The financial implications of the changes are significant, with projected savings of 900 million euros from capping pay at 90% during ordinary sick leave and an additional 289 million euros from the transition to a three-day waiting period. The proposed measures are expected to save the government approximately 1.2 billion euros, contributing to a larger 5.2 billion euro savings package outlined in the draft budget for the upcoming year.
These measures are part of a broader context of public sector reforms that include reducing the workforce and cutting costs. The government plans to eliminate 1,000 full-time equivalent positions by 2025, in addition to the 2,200 civil servant positions already slated for cuts. The effectiveness of previous reforms, such as the one-day waiting period introduced in 2018, is being debated, with data indicating an increase in long-term absences.
The outcome of these changes will be closely monitored by public sector employees and financial analysts as it could set a precedent for future labor policies and impact the overall landscape of public sector employment in France.