France Tightens Rules on Sick Leave Pay
Listen to the story
The French government wants to change the rules for sick leave. Sick leave is time off work when a person is ill. Workers get money from the state during this time.
Soon, the government will make two new decrees. A decree is an official rule from the government. One decree will cut money for some workers with depression. Depression is a serious illness of the mind. The payment will be three times smaller for some of these workers.
The other decree is about something called medical nomadism. This means going to many different doctors to get a sick note. The government wants to punish this with money rules.
Many doctors are worried about these changes. They think the new rules could hurt patients who really need help. Doctors say sick people need care, not less money.
The decrees will come out in the next few days. People are waiting to see the full details.
Vocabulary15 words
- sick leave
- time off work because a person is ill
- decree
- an official rule made by the government
- depression
- a serious illness that makes a person feel very sad
- medical nomadism
- going to many doctors to get what you want
- indemnification
- money paid to help someone
- salaried worker
- a person who works for money from a company
- government
- the group of people who run a country
- patient
- a person who needs medical care
- doctor
- a person who helps sick people get better
- rule
- something people must follow
- worry
- to feel bad about something bad that might happen
- punish
- to make something bad happen because of wrong action
- official
- coming from the government, not a normal person
- illness
- a sickness in the body or mind
- care
- help given to a sick person
Quiz
Answer key
1. Cut sick leave pay for some workers with depression 2. Going to many doctors to get a sick note 3. False
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
The French government wants to change the rules for _____ leave.
Workers get _____ from the state during this time.
Soon, the government will make two new _____.
One decree will cut money for some workers with _____.
The payment will be three times _____ for some of these workers.
The other decree is about something called medical _____.
This means going to many different _____ to get a sick note.
The government wants to _____ this with money rules.
Many doctors are _____ about these changes.
They think the new rules could hurt _____ who really need help.