Public service: new rules for work stoppages and therapeutic part-time work

The decree of 29 july 2026 amends, for officials and contract staff, various rules relating in particular to:

• work stoppages for health reasons;
• part-time work for therapeutic reasons;
• long-term sick leave;
• to sick leave.

This is a transposition of different rules applicable to private sector employees following the enactment of the Social Security Financing Act for 2026.

Developments in the therapeutic part-time procedure for public officials

You may be allowed to work part-time for therapeutic reasons if you find yourself in one of the following situations:

• part-time work allows you to stay in or return to work, and is recognized as a way to improve your health;
• part-time work allows you to benefit from rehabilitation or vocational rehabilitation, to find a job compatible with your health.

The procedure for benefiting from part-time work for therapeutic reasons has evolved on 1^er August for public officials.

• Until then, the authorization to benefit from a therapeutic part-time period took effect on the date of receipt of the application by the employer administration.
  Since 1^er August, the employing authority shall have a maximum period of 30 days from the date of receipt of the application to accept or refuse it. On the other hand, in the case of a request for therapeutic part-time after a long-term sick leave, of a long-term leave, of a leave for temporary invalidity attributable to service (Citis) or after availability for health reasons, the decision of the administration must be taken at the latest on the day of return to work (the same applies in the case of an application for renewal of a therapeutic part-time authorization).

• The decree of 29 July 2026 specifies that any refusal by the employer of an initial application or renewal of a therapeutic part-time authorization (or interruption of this authorization at the initiative of the employer administration) must be justified.

• Before 1^er in august, the therapeutic part-time authorization was renewed for periods of one to three months, up to a maximum of one year in total.
  The authorization to benefit from a therapeutic part-time remains granted within the limit of one year, but now without compulsory periodicity of one to three months (i.e. without the obligation of interim renewals of this authorization).

The new procedure for work stoppages on health grounds

The Decree of 29 July 2026 transposes to the civil service several measures relating to work stoppages for health reasons, which have recently been introduced for employees in the private sector or are about to be introduced. These different provisions will apply to public officials from 1^er September 2026.

• From that date, notices of work stoppages in paper format must be drawn up using a secure Cerfa form. The latter makes it possible, in particular, to combat the sale of false work stoppages. The use of this form is secure mandatory for private sector employees since 1 september 2025.

• The the duration of a sick leave may no longer exceed 31 days for the first prescription, and each extension of sick leave may no longer exceed 62 days. Derogations will be possible for the prescriber (attending physician, midwife, etc.), in view of the medical situation of the public official and any recommendations of the High Authority of Health. This capping of the duration of work stoppages will also apply from 1 september 2026 to private sector employees.
  In addition, in the event of an extension of the initial notice of work stoppage, the remuneration will be maintained only if the stoppage is extended by the prescriber of the initial stoppage (except in certain cases provided for in the articles L.162-4-4 and R.162-1-9-1 of the Social Security Code).

• Public officials may begin or continue training or a proficiency check during a medical leave (regular sick leave, long-term sick leave, etc.); to do so, they must have obtained a favorable opinion from a certified physician.

• The employer may have an employee on regular, long-term or long-term sick leave subject to an administrative check. This check may cover the presence of the agent at his home (or at his place of rest) when the medical prescription will be accompanied by an obligation of presence of this type. The payment of the agent's remuneration will be interrupted, until the end date of this work stoppage for health reasons, in case of refusal of the control or unjustified absence.

• Public officials awaiting the granting of long-term sick leave or long-term sick leave, and who are at the end of their entitlement for their regular sick leave, will be entitled to a standby allowance. They will receive it until the date of the decision to return to service or to place them on long-term or sick leave. This provision concerns only the public service of the State.

In addition, since 1^er in august, accredited physicians may use telemedicine for medical examinations of public officials on regular sick leave, long-term sick leave or long-term leave. This review must respect the rules of telemedicine provided for in the Public Health Code. An approved doctor is a general practitioner or specialist on a list drawn up, in each department, by the prefect at the suggestion of the French regional health authority. Its role includes carrying out counter-visits and medical assessments.