# Sick leave: recalculation of benefits and social negotiations > As of November 1, 2026, daily allowances paid by Health Insurance must be recalculated downward for certain employees, particularly in case of work accidents. On October 28, the rise in mental health-related leave is highlighted while the government wants to save 1 billion euros on short-term work stoppages. On October 29, unions and employers open negotiations on sick leave compensation, the government seeking two billion euros in savings, while the Labor Minister calls for a thorough overhaul of the system. The same day, employers emphasize prevention and unions demand better consideration of workload. On November 4, an occupational psychologist criticizes a reform deemed too short-term, estimating that an overly early return to work can have serious health consequences. **In brief**: Ongoing story bringing together 6 events nationwide, followed from 23 October 2026 to 4 November 2026. 16 articles from 12 sources (social, health); last updated on 4 November 2026 at 07:03. - Status: ongoing - Category: Social, Health - Place: Nationwide - First detected: 23 October 2026 at 15:28 - Updated: 4 November 2026 at 07:03 - Web page: https://acturadar.com/en/stories/132-sick-leave-recalculation-of-benefits-and-social-negotiations ## Reported figures - 3.360 euros - 1 milliard d’euros - 2 milliards d'euros - deux milliards d'euros - un milliard ## Coverage angles The three sides cover the same negotiation on sick leave compensation, but differ in angle: the left insists on the constrained budgetary framework and working conditions, the center details the amounts and concrete changes for employees, the right highlights the tight schedule and the savings target already included in the budget. **Common ground** - Opening on October 29 of negotiations between unions and employers on sick leave compensation, at the government's initiative - Objective of about 1 billion euros in savings on work stoppages - Downward recalculation of daily allowances for certain employees as of November 1, 2026 - Diverging positions and tight deadlines mentioned as difficulties of the project **Differences** - The left highlights union concerns about hardship and working conditions, an angle little present on the right - The center and right insist on the 2 billion euros sought, while the left focuses on 1 billion and the budgetary framework - The center highlights the rising cost of mental health-related leave, absent from the provided right-wing articles - The right highlights the inclusion of the savings target in the Social Security budget, a point not raised by the left ## Timeline (6 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. 3 sources, 3 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 --- Cite as: Acturadar, “Sick leave: recalculation of benefits and social negotiations”, https://acturadar.com/en/stories/132-sick-leave-recalculation-of-benefits-and-social-negotiations Methodology: https://acturadar.com/en/methodology