Sick leave in France: notifying your employer and the CPAM on time (letter template)

Quick answer

When you receive a sick note, two steps, each within 48 hours: notify the employer (without delay, by any means) and send them slip 3 of the certificate, then send slips 1 and 2 to the CPAM — unless your doctor teletransmits automatically, in which case you only handle slip 3. Respect the deadlines: repeated lateness can cut your daily allowances and, on the employer's side, amount to a breach. For the employer, sending slip 3 by registered mail gives you proof of the date.

1. Two recipients, two deadlines

• The employer: notify them without delay by any means (call, text, email), then send them slip 3 of the medical certificate (the one without the medical reason). The practice — absent a contractual deadline — is 48 hours.
• The CPAM: send slips 1 and 2 within 48 hours. If your doctor teletransmits the leave (common, especially in teleconsultation), these slips are sent automatically and you only receive slip 3.

Always check with the doctor what was teletransmitted: it determines whether you still have anything to send.

2. During the leave

• Respect the authorised outing hours and the duty to remain available for an inspection (a doctor mandated by the CPAM or the employer).
• Do not leave your département without the CPAM's prior agreement.
• Keep copies and proof (deposit receipt, proof of dispatch).

3. Template letter to send slip 3 to the employer

Subject: Sick leave — transmission of slip 3

Dear Sir or Madam,

I inform you that my doctor has prescribed sick leave from [date] to [date] inclusive. You were notified on [date] by [phone / email].

Please find enclosed slip 3 of the sick-leave notice. Slips 1 and 2 have been [sent to my CPAM / teletransmitted by my doctor].

I will keep you informed of any change, in particular in the event of an extension.

Yours faithfully,

[Date — Signature]

To date the sending of slip 3 to the employer, MaisonMail can print and dispatch your letter through an available registered service. Origin market, delivery times, tracking and the proof-of-receipt slip are confirmed before payment. See also: end-of-contract documents.

4. Extension and return

• Extension: same steps and deadlines (48 h), slip 3 to the employer, slips 1 and 2 to the CPAM. The extension should in principle come from the initial prescribing doctor or the treating doctor, with exceptions (impossibility, specialist).
• Early return: it generally requires the doctor's opinion; notify the employer.
• Return after a long leave: a return medical visit with occupational health may be compulsory.

5. Daily allowances

• They are paid by the CPAM after a waiting period (in principle 3 days, unless more favourable provisions apply), subject to eligibility.
• Many employers pay a top-up (salary maintenance) depending on the collective agreement and seniority.
• Repeated late sending to the CPAM can lead to a reduction of the allowances: do not take the deadlines lightly.

6. Common mistakes

• Notifying the employer too late or only orally, without written confirmation.
• Not sending slip 3, thinking teletransmission is enough: it only concerns the CPAM.
• Forgetting to redo the steps for an extension.
• Going out at prohibited hours or leaving the département without agreement.
• Keeping no proof of dispatch, decisive if a dispute arises over deadlines.

---

In short: two recipients, two 48-hour windows — the employer (notified without delay + slip 3) and the CPAM (slips 1 and 2, unless teletransmitted). Respect the outing hours, redo everything identically for an extension, and keep proof: sending slip 3 by registered mail protects your rights if a dispute arises over the date.