FOCUS on... the package of absences for family reasons

21/11/2024


Since the entry into force of the new company agreement on January 1, 2024, you benefit from a “Package of absences for family reasons” of 12 days/year, applicable to everyone regardless of age, seniority or status (this package is even increased to 15 days/year for parents of a child with a disability, with annual proof from the MDPH).

These rights can be used for a full day or half day.

After a few months and further to your questions, it appears necessary to clarify the conditions of use of this package.

In what cases can you use this package?

  • Sick child(ren) or hospitalized child(ren) under the age of 16 (or over if disabled child)

Proof to be provided: medical certificate stating the parent's need to be present with the child or hospitalisation report (medical consultations are not eligible)

  • Sick parent, or hospitalized parent (“parent” in the sense of the father or mother of the employee)

Proof to be provided: medical certificate or hospitalisation certificate + copy of the family record book or declaration on honour of the family relationship between the employee and the parent

  • Support at the end of a parent's life (father, mother, child or spouse/PACS partner)

Proof to be provided: medical certificate mentioning a life-threatening pathology or an advanced or terminal phase of a serious and incurable illness, accompanied by a copy of the family record book or a sworn declaration of the family relationship.

  • Family care-giver

Proof to be provided every year:

  • Child under 20 years of age (dependent within the meaning of Social Security law) : medical certificate attesting to the seriousness of the child's illness, accident or disability, making a sustained presence and restrictive care indispensable, and indicating, as far as possible, the foreseeable duration of this care.
  • For other situations:
    • a copy of the family record book or a sworn statement of the family relationship between the employee and the person being assisted, or a sworn statement of the assistance provided to an elderly or disabled person with whom the employee resides or has a close and stable relationship and to whom the employee provides regular and frequent assistance (on a non-professional basis) to perform all or part of the acts or activities of daily living.
    • together with the following proofs:
      - in the case of a disabled person: a copy of the decision taken in application of social security or social assistance legislation, subject to proof of a permanent disability rate of at least 80%.
      - if the person is suffering from a loss of autonomy: copy of the decision to grant the Allocation Personnalisée d'Autonomie (APA)
       

What are the situations that do not allow you to use this package?

-Sick spouse (rationale: contray to a sick child or sick old parent, a sick spouse can stay alone at home)

-Scheduled medical appointment 

-Back to school or accompanying a school outing

-Child care in case of strike
 

And in case of family events (marriage, death)?

You have additional rights, in addition to this package of absences for family reasons, in case of family events: marriage/PACS, death of a loved one (spouse, child, parent, brother/sister, in-law, in-law -brother/sister-in-law).  

=> see the FO booklet pages 60 to 62 for further details (in French only)