# Sick leave in France: negotiations, savings and criticism > As of November 1, 2026, the calculation of daily allowances by Assurance maladie is to be revised downward for certain employees, particularly in case of work accidents. In late October, unions and employers opened negotiations on sick leave compensation, with the government seeking two billion euros in savings, while the labor minister called for a thorough overhaul of the system. Debates focused on prevention, mental health and the rising cost of leave, with an occupational psychologist criticizing a too short-term reform. In early November, Manuel Bompard defended self-declaration of short-term sick leave, and hospital teams warned about the management of work-related mental health issues. On November 11, the reduction from three years to one year of the maximum compensation period for non-exempt long-term conditions since October 15 was highlighted. **In brief**: Ongoing story bringing together 10 events nationwide, followed from 23 October 2026 to 11 November 2026. 30 articles from 15 sources (social, health, politics); last updated on 11 November 2026 at 06:30. - Status: ongoing - Category: Social, Health, Politics - Place: Nationwide - First detected: 23 October 2026 at 15:28 - Updated: 11 November 2026 at 06:30 - Web page: https://acturadar.com/en/stories/132-sick-leave-in-france-negotiations-savings-and-criticism ## Reported figures - 3.360 euros - 175 € - 1 milliard d’euros - 2 milliards d'euros - deux milliards d'euros ## Coverage angles The three sides cover negotiations on sick leave, but with distinct angles: the left highlights social criticism and employee health, the center mainly relays Manuel Bompard's statements and practical aspects, and the right insists on the schedule and savings to be achieved. **Common ground** - Negotiations between social partners began in late October to reform sick leave compensation. - The government aims for one billion euros in savings on work stoppages. - Daily allowances paid by Assurance maladie will be recalculated downward for certain employees as of November 1, 2026. **Differences** - The left warns against the health consequences of an early return to work, an angle absent from right-wing articles. - The right stresses that the savings objective is already included in the social security budget, a point not mentioned on the left. - The center focuses on Manuel Bompard's statements and practical aspects (paid leave, savings options), while the left prioritizes social criticism and the right the schedule and savings. ## Timeline (10 events) ### 23 October 2026 — [Daily allowances: a new calculation unfavorable to certain employees as of November 1](https://acturadar.com/en/events/269-daily-allowances-a-new-calculation-unfavorable-to-certain-employees-as-of.md) As of November 1, 2026, daily allowances paid by health insurance will be recalculated downwards for certain employees, particularly in the event of a work-related accident. 4 sources, 4 articles · Nationwide ### 28 October 2026 — [Santé mentale : un coût croissant pour les arrêts de travail](https://acturadar.com/en/events/2474-sante-mentale-un-cout-croissant-pour-les-arrets-de-travail.md) Le gouvernement veut économiser 1 milliard d'euros sur les arrêts de travail courts. La montée des arrêts liés à la santé mentale invite à repenser la vie en entreprise à l'heure du numérique. 1 sources, 1 articles · Nationwide ### 29 October 2026 — [Unions and employers open negotiations on sick leave compensation](https://acturadar.com/en/events/3463-unions-and-employers-open-negotiations-on-sick-leave-compensation.md) Social partners meet for a first round of negotiations on sick leave, with the government seeking two billion euros in savings. 6 sources, 7 articles · Nationwide ### 29 October 2026 — [Sick leave: the Labor Minister calls for a thorough review of the system](https://acturadar.com/en/events/3675-sick-leave-the-labor-minister-calls-for-a-thorough-review-of-the-system.md) Jean-Pierre Farandou asked the social partners to thoroughly review the sick leave system to protect employees and reduce costs for the Social Security. 3 sources, 3 articles · Nationwide ### 29 October 2026 — [Arrêts maladie : les employeurs misent sur la prévention](https://acturadar.com/en/events/4469-arrets-maladie-les-employeurs-misent-sur-la-prevention.md) Face au coût des arrêts maladie, certains employeurs privilégient la prévention des accidents et troubles musculosquelettiques, tandis que les syndicats réclament une meilleure prise en compte de la charge de travail. 1 sources, 1 articles · Nationwide ### 4 November 2026 — [Arrêts maladie : une psychologue du travail critique une réforme trop court-termiste](https://acturadar.com/en/events/8901-arrets-maladie-une-psychologue-du-travail-critique-une-reforme-trop-court.md) Entendue dans le cadre du projet de réforme des arrêts maladie, la psychologue du travail Dominique Lhuilier estime que pousser à une reprise trop précoce du travail peut avoir des conséquences graves sur la santé. 1 sources, 1 articles · Nationwide ### 6 November 2026 — [Arrêt maladie et congés payés : les pièges de calcul qui coûtent cher aux entreprises](https://acturadar.com/en/events/11496-arret-maladie-et-conges-payes-les-pieges-de-calcul-qui-coutent-cher-aux.md) Un article détaille les erreurs de calcul des congés payés en cas d'arrêt maladie et leurs conséquences financières pour les entreprises. 1 sources, 1 articles · Nationwide ### 8 November 2026 — [Manuel Bompard guest on BFM Politique](https://acturadar.com/en/events/13101-manuel-bompard-guest-on-bfm-politique.md) The coordinator of La France insistance Manuel Bompard was a guest on BFM Politique on November 8, 2026. There he defended self-declaration of short-term sick leave, assuring that it does not lead to abuse in other countries. 1 sources, 8 articles · Nationwide ### 11 November 2026 — [Arrêts maladie pour troubles psychiques liés au travail : une prise en charge délicate](https://acturadar.com/en/events/16046-arrets-maladie-pour-troubles-psychiques-lies-au-travail-une-prise-en-charge.md) Des équipes de Garches et de Paris alertent sur l'écart entre les orientations politiques et la réalité de la prise en charge des troubles psychiques liés au travail, alors que le gouvernement appelle à une réforme structurelle des arrêts maladie. 2 sources, 2 articles · Nationwide ### 11 November 2026 — [Le gouvernement réduit la durée d'indemnisation des affections longue durée non exonérantes](https://acturadar.com/en/events/16069-le-gouvernement-reduit-la-duree-d-indemnisation-des-affections-longue-duree-non.md) La durée maximale d'indemnisation des assurés en affection de longue durée non exonérante passe de trois ans à un an depuis le 15 octobre, au risque de priver certains patients de revenus. 2 sources, 2 articles · Nationwide --- Cite as: Acturadar, “Sick leave in France: negotiations, savings and criticism”, https://acturadar.com/en/stories/132-sick-leave-in-france-negotiations-savings-and-criticism Methodology: https://acturadar.com/en/methodology