DECRYPTION. Sick leave: towards a reduction in compensation for sick workers? The government’s path to saving money

This is a challenge for the Barnier government: since his appointment to Matignon, the new Prime Minister has continued to openly criticize the current state of the country’s finances. Generalized penalty for the purchase of thermal vehicles, reduction in the reimbursement of medical visits by the Primary Health Insurance Fund (CPAM), freezing of retirement pensions… These are, in short, the avenues which are currently being studied to allow the France to make valuable savings. The objective: to find 60 billion euros to complete the 2025 state budget.

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But Michel Barnier and his ministers are not left out. The government could indeed be led to reduce your contribution to work stoppages via Health Insurance, as explained by our colleagues from Echos. Workers who take time off work due to their health would therefore be likely to see their compensation reduced. The government would thus intend to save 600 million euros in 2025.

What does the rule say today?

In practice, Health Insurance compensates an employee up to 50% of their gross salary when they are on sick leave and receive a maximum of 3,180 euros gross per month. This is a ceiling. In this context, when a worker is on sick leave for several days, the State covers 50% of the gross daily salary from the fourth day of sick leave. Please note, this compensation is limited to 1.8 SMIC, the equivalent of a maximum of 52 euros per day.

What could change?

Concretely, the Barnier government would like to modify the rule, by adjusting the maximum compensation ceiling. The State would then be likely to compensate up to 50% only to workers who would receive a maximum of 2,473 euros gross per month. Furthermore, this reimbursement would be limited to 1.4 SMIC.

Who would be affected by this modification?

This decision would have significant consequences for people who receive between 2,473 euros gross and 3,180 euros gross per month. These workers would inevitably see their compensation reduced if they are subject to sick leave. Unless their company or their insurer allows them to compensate for this shortfall: generally, collective agreements protect employees and force companies and insurance companies to put their hands in their pockets. The measure could be painless for employees on sick leave… less so for company coffers.