All about sick child leave and absence

Absence for sick children

An employee who needs to take time off to care for a sick or injured child, under 16 years of age yearsmay be granted unpaid leave of varying duration:

• in general 3 days per year ;
• if the child is less than one year old or if the employee assumes the care of at least 3 children under 16 years: 5 days per year.

The absence must be justified to the employer by a medical certificate attesting to the child's state of health.

Parental leave

All employees with one or more dependent children can benefit from parental leave, regardless of their length of service in the company. Such leave may be requested in case of illness, disability or serious accidentsituations making it essential to be present with the child.

The employee may benefit from 310 days worked maximum for this leave (14 months) over a period of 3 years (for the same child and by pathology). The 3-year period may be renewed under certain conditions.

This leave works like a "credit account days": the employee, in agreement with his employer, can use it according to his needs, he can transform it into a period of part-time work or split it (into minimum periods of half a day).

Please note that remuneration is not maintained during parental leave. The employee may apply fordaily parental attendance allowance (DPA).

For more information on parental leave, you can consult the Service-Public.fr : private sector and public service.