In France, Solidarity Day is generally fixed on Pentecost Monday, i.e. May 29, 2023. It makes it possible to finance actions in favor of the autonomy of the elderly or people with disabilities. Who is concerned ? Exemption ? Is it mandatory or a public holiday? In private? The audience?
Solidarity Day is an annual day set up since 2004just after the 2003 heat wave which resulted in the death of nearly 20,000 people. It consists of an extra day’s work (which can possibly be split into hours depending on the case). Concretely, part of the income from this day is intended to finance actions in favor of the elderly and disabledin particular the prevention of risks linked to a new heat wave. Pentecost Monday is suggested to be Solidarity Day. But companies can decide to set the Solidarity Day on another day of the year, subject however to certain conditions. What is the date of Solidarity Day? Is it compulsory to work or is it a public holiday? How many hours should we “donate”? And part-time? As a trainee ? Understand everything.
Definition: what is Solidarity Day and what is it for?
Solidarity Day was established by the law of 30 June 2004under the action of government of Jean-Pierre Raffarin. This day helps fund actions in favor of the autonomy of the elderly or people with disabilities. In concrete terms, it consists, for the employees, in an extra day of unpaid work (in principle). For employers, it means a contribution made to them (contribution solidarity autonomy or CSA).
What does the Labor Code say for Solidarity Day?
In France, Solidarity Day is fixed in the law of the Labor Code (law of June 30, 2004). With regard to the rules applicable to the Solidarity Day, a distinction should be made between:
- Areas of public order: the legislator sets rules from which it is not possible to derogate,
- Private areas: the rules may be set by company agreement or collective agreement or, failing that, a branch agreement or agreement.
So-called “supplementary” provisions are provided for and apply in the absence of a convention or collective agreement setting these rules, we can read on the Ministry of Labor website.
What is the date of Solidarity Day in 2023?
In the absence of an agreement or agreement concluded, the Solidarity Day is normally scheduled Whit Mondayeither Monday, May 29, 2023. If Whit Monday is chosen as Solidarity Day, the employer pays a autonomy solidarity contribution (THAT’S IT), up to 0.3% of the company’s payroll. But the date of the Solidarity Day, whether it results from a collective agreement or a decision by the employer, may be different for each employee business, when it works continuously or is open every day of the year.
Is Whit Monday compulsory to work?
Whit Monday is not necessarily worked if it is chosen as Solidarity Day. Indeed, if Whit Monday is chosen as Solidarity Day, there are two possibilities:
- Whit Monday is work (unless we set an RTT or a day off)
- Whit Monday is not not worked because a day of RTT was deducted from each employee’s meter, following a company agreement.
The Solidarity Day is compulsory for all employees over the age of 18 covered by the labor code
Is the Solidarity Day compulsory?
Yes. Solidarity Day is mandatory for all employees over the age of 18 under the labor code (and those under the rural code), whether they are full-time or part-time, executives or not, permanent or fixed-term, temporary or seasonal. An employee who refuses to perform the solidarity day would be liable to disciplinary sanctions and payroll deduction (Court of Cassation, April 7, 2010, No. 08-40658). Trainees, who are not employees, are not concerned. With regard to employees under the age of 18, the special provisions governing the work of minors should be taken into account. Thus, if the solidarity day is fixed on a public holiday, it does not concern young workers, since, with rare exceptions, the work of employees under the age of 18 is prohibited during holidays. If a collective agreement sets a non-public holiday as a day of solidarity, it is up to the social partners to decide on the conditions under which these young employees will perform this day. THE self-employed non-salaried workers are not affected by the Solidarity Day.
► Each employee is only required to perform one Solidarity Day during the same year. Thus, in the event of a change of employer during the year, an employee who has already completed his solidarity day with a previous employer is not required to complete a second Solidarity Day. A Solidarity Day certificate may be requested when an employee leaves his company. This is a document that indicates the date on which the employee worked under national solidarity during the year.
The methods of the Solidarity Day are different for employees in the private sector and the public sector. For full-time and monthly salaried employees, the work performed within the limit of 7 hoursduring this day, is not not paid. Concretely, either they lose a day of rest or RTT, or they work 7 unpaid overtime hours. This extra day of unpaid work can be:
- a working day on Whit Monday or another public holiday previously not worked (other than May 1)
- there removal of a day of RTT
- any other modality allowing the work of 7 hours previously not worked, (except deletion of one day of annual leave). For part-time employees, the limit of 7 hours is reduced in proportion to the duration of work provided for in their employment contract (for example, for a part-time employee, the limit will be set at 3.5 hours).
The procedures for carrying out the Solidarity Day in the private sector are set by convention or company (or establishment) agreement or by branch agreement. For full-time and monthly salaried employees, the work performed within the limit of 7 hoursduring this day, is not not paid. Concretely, either they lose a day of rest or RTT, or they work 7 unpaid overtime hours. This day additional unpaid work over the year can be :
- either during a public holiday which was previously a holiday other than May 1 (such as Whit Monday)
- either during a RTT day
- either according to any other modality allowing the work of 7 hours previously not worked (like working on a Saturday, for example). For part-time employees, the limit of 7 hours is reduced in proportion to the duration of work provided for in their employment contract (for example, for a part-time employee, the limit will be set at 3.5 hours).
Whether this evening in the public or private sector, for part-time employees, the 7-hour limit is reduced in proportion to the working time provided for in their employment contract. So for example, for a part-time employee, the limit will be set at 3.5 hours (7 hours divided by 2). Hours worked beyond this 7-hour limit (or the prorated limit for part-time employees) will, however, normally be remunerated.
Should an intern do his Solidarity Day?
No. A trainee is not an employee of the company, he is therefore not concerned by the Solidarity Day. However, the only condition under which a trainee can be required to work on Whit Monday is if his internship agreement expressly provides for this.
Who is exempt from Solidarity Day?
- Employees who have already completed a Solidarity Day during the year (in the event of a job change during the year, for example)
- Trainees not subject to the Common Labor Code
- Work-study students and apprentices under the age of 18
- Under 18s
- Employees who are on paid leave, sick leave or maternity leave on the day set in the company for the solidarity day: this day is not postponed.
Sources: Government site / Ministry of Labour, Full Employment and Integration / Law No. 2004-626 of June 30, 2004 relating to solidarity for the autonomy of the elderly and disabled people (Legifrance) / Public Service. Fr