Since the announcement by the Minister of Public Service, Guillaume Kasbarian, of his intention to tighten the compensation regime for sick leave of civil servants on October 27, many are left wondering how they will manage if they fall ill. The government is expected to introduce its reform through amendments to the 2025 budget law when debates resume in the National Assembly on November 5. One teacher, Christel, from Bouches-du-Rhône, is already calculating the impact of the proposed changes. She recalls a time during the 2023-2024 school year when she contracted infectious mononucleosis, continued working until she had to stay home due to fever, and then had to take more time off due to pneumonia.
For Christel, the current system, with two days of waiting period per sick leave, cost her about 150 euros. However, under the proposed changes with three days of waiting period per sick leave and reduced compensation to 90% of her salary, she would have lost almost 400 euros from her monthly pay of 2,200 euros. This reduction would have made it difficult for her to make ends meet. The government’s project, presented as a response to absenteeism among civil servants, has sparked outrage among unions in the public sector, who have unanimously condemned the measure as scandalous. Teachers, who represent almost a fifth of civil servants, have been particularly affected by the proposal.
Among teachers, the severity of the proposed measures has caused shock and disbelief. Géraldine Duboz, a history-geography teacher in a college in eastern France, expressed her frustration at the government’s implication that absentee teachers are on par with students who skip classes. The assertion that teachers or civil servants who are absent are in the same mindset as chronic truants is seen as unacceptable. The opposition to the government’s proposal has been strong, with many teachers expressing their anger and sense of injustice towards a measure that appears to attack the essence of public service.
The reaction to the proposed changes has been swift and impassioned, with many calling attention to the dedication and commitment of civil servants, especially teachers, who often go above and beyond for their students. The impact of reducing compensation for sick leave and increasing waiting periods is seen as a significant blow to the well-being and financial stability of civil servants, who already face many challenges in their line of work. As debates on the budget and proposed reforms continue in the National Assembly, the outcome remains uncertain, but the voices of those affected by the changes are being heard loud and clear. Teachers like Christel are left wondering how they will navigate potential illness and financial strain under the new regime.
