Sick pay in France (2026)
Last reviewed: 7 November 2026
In short: Health insurance pays daily allowances of 50% of the basic daily wage after 3 waiting days. Employees with a year of seniority get an employer top-up from day 8. The allowance lasts at most 12 months in 3 years.
| Rule | What applies |
|---|---|
| Who pays sick payBeing ill and unable to work | Statutory sick pay has two layers. The health insurance body (CPAM, MSA) pays daily allowances from the fourth day. The employer pays a top-up from the eighth day, if the employee has at least one year of seniority. [1] |
| Sick pay rateBeing ill and unable to work | The health insurance daily allowance is 50% of the basic daily wage, capped at EUR 42.97 gross per day. The employer top-up brings pay to 90% of gross wage for the first 30 to 90 days (by seniority), then to 66.66% for the same number of days. [1] |
| Maximum durationBeing ill and unable to work | The health insurance body pays at most 12 months of allowances in any period of 3 consecutive years (3 years for a long-term condition, ALD). The employer top-up lasts 60 to 180 days a year, depending on seniority (60 days for 1 to 5 years, up to 180 days from 31 years). [1] |
| Waiting daysBeing ill and unable to work | The health insurance allowance has a waiting period of 3 days for each sick leave. The employer top-up has a waiting period of 7 days, so it starts on the eighth day, unless a collective agreement is more favourable. [1] |
| Medical certificateBeing ill and unable to work | To receive the employer top-up, the employee must send the medical certificate to the employer within 48 hours. [1] |
Notes
- Collective agreements can give more favourable terms than the legal minimum shown here.
Sources
- Service-Public: Arrêt maladie : indemnités journalières versées au salarié (consulted 7 November 2026) · all sources
Related pages
General information, not legal advice. Rules change: check the official source before you fly or ride.