What does “arrêt maladie” mean in France?
Hausse des arrêts maladie et santé mentale des cadres
B2 French listening practice · French from France · Picked for people who know more
Un arrêt maladie is doctor-certified sick leave. The key difference from many countries: France has no self-certification, so you can’t simply phone in sick — a doctor must issue the arrêt, which is what triggers your pay and protects your job. The word names the medical document itself, the thing that “stops” you from working, and it’s central to any conversation about French work, health and benefits.
The certificate goes to the state health insurer (the CPAM) and your employer, and recent rules require it within tight deadlines. Note the cousin term: an arrêt de travail is the broader category, often used for work-related incapacity, while an arrêt maladie specifically covers illness from private life. This news segment uses it to discuss the rising number of arrêts tied to mental health among managers.
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Source: wordfreq 3.1.1 (general) · Lexique 3.83 (spoken). These numbers are close, not perfect.