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France Unveils Employer ‘Alert Button’ and Prevention Kit to Curb Sick Leave

The plan targets rising sick-leave costs by pairing workplace prevention with faster health-insurance checks.

Overview

  • Jean-Pierre Farandou said on Thursday that a prevention kit goes online Friday and that an employer alert button will be live before year’s end.
  • The online button will let a company ask the national health insurer CNAM to check a suspect sick note, which the government says will speed up controls.
  • Officials also plan tighter oversight, including work on second medical opinions for long absences and a debate on unpaid waiting days to be handled with unions.
  • Ministers cite more than 9 million sick leaves a year and about €18 billion in 2025 payouts, with costs rising by roughly €1 billion each year.
  • The plan leans on prevention at worksites and more care for conditions like musculoskeletal disorders, though legal criteria and privacy safeguards still need to be set.