Reduce the level of sick leave in the population. The government intends to make the compensation system enjoyed by public officials less generous. The cause is the explosion in the number of strikes, from 43 million days in 2014 to 77 million days not worked in 2022, according to figures reported by the government, with an annual cost of 15 billion euros.
The executive is considering extending the waiting period to three days and limiting compensation to 90% of the real salary for ordinary sick leave (compared to the current 100%). Recommendations in line with a mission carried out by the General Inspection of Finance and the General Inspection of Social Affairs made public in September. Leave due to long-term illnesses, service accidents, disability and serious illnesses would not be affected by this tightening.
Different Compensation Philosophies
Beyond public-private alignment, it may be interesting to question the existing compensation systems in other European countries. The July 2024 health insurance report analyzes what prevails in Germany, the Netherlands, Italy and the United Kingdom. The document indicates the existence of several legal or conventional bases, that is, allowances, continuity of salary or conventional or optional measures.
Thus, the German and Dutch systems guarantee high replacement rates. In GermanyThe rate is 100% during the first six weeks and 79% from the seventh week. And this without a waiting period. In the Netherlands, the replacement rate ranges between 70 and 100% for a maximum duration of two years. These approaches are slightly more generous than those prevailing in France, where Social Security compensation ranges between 28 and 61% of gross salary. But in France, the employer then pays a legal supplement that allows him to reach 90% of the gross salary until the 38th day of sick leave.
In ItalyThe maximum duration of compensation is much shorter than in France and is limited to 180 days.
In United KingdomThe legal replacement income is very low, between 12% and 31% depending on the salary level. Overall coverage is enhanced through individual devices or corporate support. “Collective agreements play a minor role, with the exception of public sector employees and certain industrial sectors,” the report states.
Controls carried out by the employer in certain countries
For the control of the justification of the sentence, philosophy also differs in this. In more administered countries such as Germany, Italy or France, social security organizations are responsible for monitoring sick leave. They may refer to the insured’s obligations (for example, not leaving home outside of authorized departure times) or may also take the form of a medical examination. In France, the check can also be requested by the employer. In the Netherlands or the United Kingdom, it is the employer who is responsible for controlling work stoppages.
Facing a high rate of absenteeism among its public employees, Italy launched a reform in 2008 requiring that an absent employee’s condition be certified by a doctor approved by the Italian national health system. After several fraud scandals, additional steps were taken to fire unscrupulous employees.
Support for professional reintegration is taken seriously in the Netherlands
In the Netherlands, employers take sick leave seriously. In 2022, the Verbetering Poortwachat (Reintegration at Work) law requires the employer to make efforts to reinstate the absent employee. An action plan is put in place from the beginning of the employee’s leave to accelerate their return in collaboration with the treating doctor. The plan may include a change in the work environment, training, or even a change in job duties. In exchange, the arrested employee must cooperate with his or her employer to quickly find his or her way back to work.
On the contrary, according to the same Social Security report, “France and Italy are characterized by a very low use of tools aimed at professional reintegration or supporting employees during work stoppages.”
Source: BFM TV
