The French government is preparing to engage in talks with social partners—such as labor unions and employer groups—about possible changes to the country's sick leave policies. According to Minister of Labor Jean-Pierre Farandou, the prime minister wants to begin these discussions "quite quickly." Farandou described the current system as being "a bit at the end of a system," suggesting that it may be outdated or in need of significant updates. Sébastien Lecornu, the minister in charge of the 2027 budget, mentioned that the government expects these reforms to cost approximately 2 billion euros. Earlier in August, Lecornu had called for unions and employers to negotiate on the issue, emphasizing the importance of social dialogue in finding solutions. The government has already outlined some preliminary measures, including reducing the length of sick leave compensation for certain cases from three years to one year on an exceptional basis. It also plans to impose penalties on individuals who repeatedly take short sick leaves by visiting multiple doctors. Farandou highlighted the government's focus on prevention, stating that "the best way to manage sick leave is that there are fewer illnesses." He also mentioned an "ambitious reform" aimed at restructuring the parameters of sick leave policies, especially distinguishing between short and long-term absences. While he did not provide specific details, he noted that France’s approach differs from that of other European countries, and there may be room for learning from their systems. Another key topic for discussion is the "responsibility of the actors," whether they are doctors who prescribe sick leave or employees who take it. Christelle Thieffinne, president of the CFE-CGC executive cadre union, stressed the need to "make a diagnosis, finally understand what is happening with sick leaves and not just that we are looking to make savings." This suggests that the discussions will aim to address the root causes of sick leave usage rather than focusing solely on cost-cutting.