Coronavirus (COVID-19) - employment issues in France

Where do we stand in France?

France, like the rest of the world, is being confronted by this evolving epidemic that is threatening our business activities. France must adapt, like its government and employers, to the virus’s progression to limit its spread.
The government has already taken notable measures, to which employers must add common sense, including preventive steps.

The measures taken must be brought to the attention of the employers by posting / email.

Employers have a strong legal obligation of a duty of care and prevention of risks towards their employees, and must therefore take steps to minimize them, namely:

Preventive measures:

• Re-arrange (if necessary, cancel or postpone) work travel, travel in general and planned conferences;

• Request that employees declare their holidays in high risk countries (risk zones may become rapidly more numerous)

• Offer quarantines for those concerned employees and those who have been close to those infected or currently in quarantine (at the moment, this cannot be required)

• The Works Council (CSE) can exercise its alert right

• The government has extended its sick leave disbursements (IJSS) to employees in quarantine that are not sick (or those who are taking care of a child in quarantine) in connection with the ARS (autorité de santé sanitaire, “authority of sanitary health”)

• Establish a map of risks (review the Plan for prevention of risks if necessary)

• Extension of remote working (if possible)

• Favor video conferencing (visio-conference)

• Provide information for employees on measures of hygiene (washing of hands, etc.)

• Distribution of recommended individual protections (anti-bacterial/viral gels, etc.) for free

• There is no right to test the employees or to provide them with medications

• Liaise with the employee representatives (CSE / CSSCT) and the occupational health doctor

• Extensions of part-time activities (partial or technical unemployment) by the government

• Possibility for the employer to modify already requested absences

• Employees considering themselves in danger might request a right of withdrawal (with pay), although this is challengeable

  For more information

• https://travail-emploi.gouv.fr/IMG/pdf/coronavirus_entreprises_et_salaries_q-r.pdf

• https://www.gouvernement.fr/info-coronavirus

• COVID-19: view from our restructuring and special situations experts

French language version available here

Further information to help employers deal with the outbreak of the coronavirus across our international network available here