Source date: 2026-06-15
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From September 1, 2026
Sick leave duration to be capped from September 1 Published on June 16, 2026 - Service Public / Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
A decree dated June 12, 2026, caps the duration of sick leaves prescribed and extended starting September 1, 2026. Service Public explains.
Initially, the duration of sick leaves was not subject to a legal cap. Henceforth, the decree of June 12, 2026 creates Article R.162-1-7-1 in the Social Security Code, which limits the duration of sick leaves and extensions prescribed starting September 1, 2026:
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the duration of a sick leave may no longer exceed 31 days (for the initial prescription);
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each extension of sick leave may not exceed 62 days.
These caps will not apply in Mayotte.
The healthcare professionals authorized to prescribe these leaves are physicians, midwives, and dental surgeons.
It will be possible to extend sick leave beyond the capped duration if the healthcare professional deems that the employee's health condition requires it. Where applicable, recommendations issued by the Haute Autorité de santé must be taken into consideration.
This extension may be carried out by:
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the physician who prescribed the initial sick leave;
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the treating physician;
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the dental surgeon.
The employee may also request an extension of their sick leave via a telemedicine act (teleconsultation, remote monitoring, etc.), but strictly adhering to the conditions set out in paragraph 3 of Article L6316-1 of the Public Health Code.
Laws and references
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Article L162-4-4 of the Social Security Code (upcoming version effective September 1, 2026)
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Law No. 2025-1403 of December 30, 2025, on the financing of social security for 2026 - Article 81
See also
- Illness or work accident in the private sector Service Public
Agenda
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From June 1, 2026, to January 15, 2027 Higher education How to benefit from the Parcoursup mobility aid? Published on May 12, 2026
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From June 24 to July 21, 2026 Sales What are the dates for the summer 2026 sales? Published on May 7, 2026
Source: Service-Public professionnels