Date source: 2026-08-10
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Public Service: New Rules for Sick Leave and Therapeutic Part-Time Work Published on August 11, 2026 - Service Public / Direction of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
The procedure allowing public servants to benefit from part-time work for therapeutic reasons has changed on August 1st, following the publication of a decree in the Official Journal. This text also provides new procedures for sick leave in the public service as of September 1, 2026.
Image 1 Credits: fizkes - stock.adobe.com
The July 29, 2026 decree modifies, for civil servants and contract employees, various rules concerning:
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sick leave for health reasons;
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part-time work for therapeutic reasons;
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long-term illness leave;
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severe illness leave.
This is a transposition of different rules applicable to private sector employees following the enactment of the 2026 health insurance funding law.
Changes to the Procedure for Therapeutic Part-Time Work for Public Servants
You may be authorized to work part-time for therapeutic reasons if you are in one of the following situations:
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part-time work allows you to maintain or return to employment, and is recognized as being able to improve your state of health;
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part-time work allows you to benefit from rehabilitation or professional reintegration, to find employment compatible with your state of health.
The procedure to benefit from part-time work for therapeutic reasons has changed on August 1st for public servants.
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Until then, the authorization to benefit from therapeutic part-time work took effect on the date of receipt of the request by the employer administration. Since August 1st, the employer administration has a maximum of 30 days from the date of receipt of the request to accept or reject it. However, in the case of a request for part-time work at the end of a long-term illness leave, a long-term leave, a leave for temporary disability attributable to service (Citis) or after a leave for health reasons, the administration's decision must be made no later than the day of the return to work (the same applies in the case of a renewal of a therapeutic part-time work authorization).
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The July 29, 2026 decree specifies that any refusal by the employer of an initial request or a renewal of a therapeutic part-time work authorization (or the interruption of this authorization at the initiative of the employer administration) must be justified.
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Before August 1st, the authorization for therapeutic part-time work was renewed in periods of one to three months, up to a total of one year. The authorization to benefit from therapeutic part-time work remains valid for up to one year, but now without a mandatory periodicity of one to three months (therefore without the obligation of intermediate renewals of this authorization).
The medical conditions allowing you to benefit from part-time work for therapeutic reasons have not changed, nor have the possibilities of renewing the authorization, the possible working hours (between 50% and 90% of full-time), and the rules of remuneration. You can find all the details of the procedure on the Service Public practical guide « Can a civil servant work part-time for therapeutic reasons? ».
New Procedure for Sick Leave for Health Reasons
The July 29, 2026 decree transposes to the public service several measures concerning sick leave for health reasons, which have recently been established for private sector employees or are about to be. These different provisions will apply to public servants as of September 1, 2026.
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As of this date, sick leave notices in paper format must be established using a secure Cerfa form. This form allows, among other things, to combat the sale of fake sick leave notices. The use of this secure form is mandatory for private sector employees since September 1, 2025.
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The duration of a sick leave cannot exceed 31 days for the first prescription, and each extension cannot be longer than 62 days. Exceptions will be possible for the prescriber (treating physician, midwife, etc.), based on the medical situation of the public servant and any recommendations from the High Authority for Health. This limitation on the duration of sick leaves will also apply as of September 1, 2026 to private sector employees. Furthermore, in case of an extension of the initial sick leave notice, the salary will only be maintained if the extension is made by the initial prescriber (except in certain cases provided for in articles L.162-4-4 and R.162-1-9-1 of the Social Security Code).
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Public servants can start or continue training or a skills assessment during a leave for health reasons (ordinary sick leave, long-term sick leave, etc.). They must obtain a favorable opinion from an approved physician to do so.
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The employer can conduct an administrative check on a civil servant on ordinary sick leave, long-term sick leave, or long-term leave. This check can include verifying the presence of the employee at their home (or place of rest) if the medical prescription includes such an obligation. The employee's salary will be suspended until the end of the sick leave if the check is refused or if the employee is absent without justification.
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Public servants awaiting the granting of long-term sick leave or long-term leave, and who are at the end of their ordinary sick leave benefits, will be entitled to an interim allowance. They will receive this allowance until the date of the decision to return to work or to be placed on long-term sick leave or long-term leave. This provision applies only to the State public service.
In addition, since August 1st, approved physicians can use telemedicine for medical examinations of public servants on ordinary sick leave, long-term sick leave, or long-term leave. This examination must comply with the rules of telemedicine established by the Public Health Code. An approved physician is a general practitioner or specialist listed in each department by the prefect on the recommendation of the Regional Health Agency. They are responsible, among other things, for conducting follow-up visits and medical expert opinions.
The July 29, 2026 decree also provides for a