Medef chief proposes ending reimbursement for brief sick leaves

During a televised interview, Patrick Martin, head of the Medef, advocated for a system in which short-duration sick leaves would no longer be reimbursed by either the basic health insurance or complementary plans, hoping this would produce a behavioural effect on frequent users. He cited a noticeable increase in brief absences that he finds questionable and cautioned against transferring the financial burden to employers and private insurers.

Martin dismissed the "open bar" label for sick leaves popularised by presidential hopeful Édouard Philippe as a mere punchline. He also noted that rising fuel prices and inflation are squeezing company margins, limiting their ability to raise wages or bonuses, and urged targeted state aid to avoid worsening the public deficit. While the labour minister Jean-Pierre Farandou is set to launch discussions with social partners on sick-leave reforms, Martin stressed the need to protect both businesses and employees from excessive costs.