L’arrête maladie ça change?

I read in the Times that France’s Prime Minister François Bayrou wants to clamp down on the country’s level of sick leave.

According to the report:

^{The French absentee level is one of Europe’s highest and about double that of Britain and the United States. The cost is estimated at up to €80 billion, more than the state education budget.}

I know from my time at Euronews that l’arrête maladie was a system that was easily abused.

In my two-and-a-half years working there there were at least two employees who I never met because they were on un arrêté maladie.

So there are definitely some loop holes to close.

And this is despite the fact that if you are ill and off work for even one day you have to go to the doctor’s to get a sick note.

The PM also wants to do away with two bank holidays and reform the unemployment benefit system.

The other thing I remember from my time at Euronews is the strength of les syndicats.

Alors M Bayrou, bonne chance.