France strengthens protections for employees caring for seriously ill children

At a glance

• France has introduced stronger employment protections for employees who take leave to care for a child with a serious illness or disability.
• Employees are now protected from dismissal throughout the leave period and for ten weeks after they return to work.
• The notice period for requesting this type of leave has been reduced from 15 days to ten days.
• The amount of leave available when a serious illness or disability is first diagnosed has been increased from five to ten days.
• The changes are intended to provide greater support and flexibility for employees facing significant caregiving responsibilities.

A new French law has strengthened employment protections and enhanced leave entitlements for employees who take time off work to care for a child with a serious illness or disability.

Under the new rules, employees who are absent from work for this purpose benefit from protection against dismissal for the duration of their leave. This protection also extends for ten weeks following their return to work, providing an additional safeguard during the transition back to the workplace.

The legislation also introduces greater flexibility in accessing the leave. Employees are now required to give only ten days' notice to their employer before taking the leave, compared with the previous requirement of 15 days.

In addition, the amount of leave available when a child's serious illness or disability is first diagnosed has been increased from five days to ten days. The reform is intended to provide families with additional time and support at what is often a particularly challenging period, while reducing administrative barriers for employees who need to take time away from work to fulfil caregiving responsibilities.