Family solidarity leave of an employee

Verified 17 August 2026 - Public Service / (Prime Minister)

Family solidarity leave allows an employee to take time off work to take care of one of his close relatives at the end of life. The loved one must be in the advanced or terminal phase of a serious and incurable condition (whatever the cause). Here is the information you need to know.

The employee may request family solidarity leave to care for one of the following persons, if he is in the advanced or terminal phase of a serious and incurable condition:

  • Ascendant
  • Descendant
  • Brother or sister
  • Person sharing the same domicile as the employee or having designated him as his trusted person.

No. Family solidarity leave is open to all employees, without seniority requirement.

During the entire period of the leave, the employee may not engage in any other professional activity.

The employee must inform his employer of his wish to take family solidarity leave at least 15 days before the start of the leave.

The employee can inform his employer by any means justifying the date of the request (e.g. registered letter or email).

The employee must inform his employer of the following information:

  • Willingness to suspend the employment contract in order to benefit from family solidarity leave
  • Date of leave
  • Request for splitting of leave or conversion of leave into part-time work
  • Expected date of return at the end of the leave.

The employee must also send his employer a medical certificate drawn up by the attending physician of the assisted person.

This certificate must certify that the person has a life-threatening condition or is in the advanced or terminal stages of a serious and incurable condition.

Once the formalities for requesting leave have been completed, the employer may not postpone or refuse the employee's request for family solidarity leave.

A written agreement between the employer and the employee must specify the following:

  • Expected duration and conditions for renewal of leave
  • Measures to maintain the employee's relationship with the company during the leave period
  • Arrangements to accompany the employee's return from leave.

In the event of refusal by the employer, the employee may Labor Court (CPH).

Leave shall be taken:

  • Either taken continuously full-time
  • Either, with the employer's agreement, taken part-time.

The leave begins at fixed date by the employee and the employer.

However, in the event of an absolute emergency noted in writing by the doctor, the leave begins (or may be renewed) without delay, that is to say as soon as notification to the employer.

Initial application

The employee must determine the duration of the family solidarity leave with the employer.

However, the leave may not exceed a maximum duration.

The duration of the leave shall be determined by collective agreement or thecompany collective agreement.

The applicable collective agreement is the one to which the main activity of the company falls.

A simulator allows you to search for the collective agreement with the name of the company or its number Siret :

Finding your collective agreement

In the absence of treaty provisions, the duration of the leave shall be 3 months maximum.

Please note

In the case of split leave, each period of leave shall be at least 1 day.

Renewal

The leave may be renewed once, either 6 months maximum (including initial term and renewal).

In the event of renewal of leave, the employee shall inform his employer at least 15 days before the end of the initial leave by any means justifying the date of the request (e.g. registered letter or email).

Please note

In the case of split leave, each period of leave shall be at least 1 day.

Remuneration

Family solidarity leave is not unpaid.

However, the employee may receive, subject to conditions, of the daily support allowance for a person at the end of life (Ajap). To do this, the employer must provide the employee with a certificate stating that he is on family solidarity leave. The employee must then send by post the certificate completed by the employer and the Ajap completed application form the National Center for the Management of Applications for Daily Allowances for Accompanying a Person at the End of Life (Cnajap).

Who shall I contact

  • By phone

    08 06 06 10 09 (free service + price of a call)

    Open Monday to Friday from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm

    By post

    Cnajap

    Rue Marcel Brunet

    BP 109

    23014 GUÉRET Cedex

In the absence of a response from Cnajap for more than 7 days from the date on which it receives the application, Ajap shall be granted.

Social benefits

During the entire period of his leave, the employee retains his rights to reimbursement of the care and daily allowances paid by the Social Security in the event of sickness, maternity, invalidity and death.

Family solidarity leave ends either on the date specified by the employee and the employer or when the assisted person dies.

Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement

End on schedule

At the end of the leave, the employee returns to his or her job or similar employment and a remuneration at least equivalent to his or her previous employment.

Accompanying measures for the employee on his return may be provided for.

After his leave, the employee has the right to benefit from a professional interview with his employer. The interview is devoted to his prospects for professional development.

The employee retains the benefit of all the benefits he acquired before the start of his leave.

The length of the leave shall be taken into account for the determination of seniority benefits.

The duration of the family solidarity leave cannot be deducted from the duration of the paid annual leave.

Death of the assisted person

In the event of a change in the expected date of return to the company, the employee must inform his employer at least 3 days before the end of his return.

If the assisted person dies during the leave, it shall end in the following 3 days which follow the death.

However, before returning to the company, the employee may take days of leave for family events in connection with the death.

At the end of the leave, the employee returns to his or her job or similar employment and a remuneration at least equivalent to his or her previous employment.

Accompanying measures for the employee on his return may be provided for.

After his leave, the employee has the right to benefit from a professional interview with his employer. The interview is devoted to his prospects for professional development.

The employee retains the benefit of all the benefits he acquired before the start of his leave.

The length of the leave shall be taken into account for the determination of seniority benefits.

The duration of the family solidarity leave cannot be deducted from the duration of the paid annual leave.

Who can help me?

Find who can answer your questions in your region

  • To send the application for allowances and for any additional information

    By phone

    08 06 06 10 09 (free service + price of a call)

    Open Monday to Friday from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm

    By post

    Cnajap

    Rue Marcel Brunet

    BP 109

    23014 GUÉRET Cedex

    • accès

      For more information on this subject, you can contact Allô Service Public.

      Please note: the service does not have access to users' personal files and cannot therefore provide information on their progress.

      He does not respond questions concerning unemployment compensation and the approach to the France Labor (formerly Job center), public servants or contract workers of the fCivil Service, the amount or payment of contributions social, wage or employer.

    • horaires
      • Lundi : de 08h30 à 17h30
      • Mardi : de 08h30 à 12h15
      • Mercredi : de 08h30 à 12h15
      • Jeudi : de 08h30 à 17h30
      • Vendredi : de 13h00 à 16h15

    • Request a call

      coût Service Free
    • service

      The informants who answer you belong to the ministry responsible for labor.

FAQ