Check out our latest employment law briefing on the limitation of the length of sick leave!
A decree dated June 12, 2026 introduced Article R.162-1-7-1 into the French Social Security Code, limiting the duration of sick leave and extensions prescribed from September 1, 2026:
- an initial sick leave may not exceed 31 days (for the first prescription);
- each extension may not exceed 62 days unless the healthcare professional considers a longerperiod medically necessary.
These limits do not apply in Mayotte.
The healthcare professionals authorized to prescribe such leave include doctors; midwives and dental surgeons.
In addition, compensation will continue during an extension only if the extension is prescribed by the healthcare professional who issued the initial sick leave certificate.
Extensions may also be prescribed through telemedicine services (teleconsultation, remote monitoring, etc.), provided the strict conditions set out in paragraph 3 of Article L6316-1 of the French Public HealthCode are met.
