Absence of an employee due to bad weather: what are the rules?
Verified 26 June 2025 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
Weather conditions (periods of heat, snow, frost, ice, rain, strong wind, etc.) can sometimes prevent employees from working. The rules differ depending on whether the employee works in the construction and public works sector (CONSTRUCTION: titleContent) or in another sector. We are taking stock of the regulations.
General case
The employee may be unable to go to work or arrive on time due to bad weather (storm, heavy snowfall...). We're talking about force majeure.
The employer is not obliged to pay for the employee's absence, which is the impossibility of going to work or arriving on time due to bad weather.
However, a convention or collective agreement may provide for more favorable provisions on the maintenance of remuneration.
A simulator is used to search for the collective agreement with the company's name or Siret number:
The amount deducted from the employee's pay must be strictly proportional the duration of the absence.
Example :
An employee whose employment contract is 35 hours per week at a rate of 7 hours per day. The employee is absent for a day because of bad weather. The deduction from the employee's pay must be 7 hours.
For avoid payroll deductions, the employer may propose, for example, one solution following:
- Have vacation hours performed at another time of the week
- Allow employee to take paid leave
- Allow the employee, if he has any, to take days of reduction of working time (RTT)
- Allow employee to take compensatory rest periods related to overtime
- Use the teleworking.
For avoid payroll deductions, the employer may propose, for example, one solution following:
- Have vacation hours performed at another time of the week
- Allow employee to take paid leave
- Allow the employee, if he has any, to take days of reduction of working time (RTT)
- Allow employee to take compensatory rest periods related to overtime
- Use the teleworking.
It may also:
- Recover lost hours within 12 months, after labor inspection has been informed
- Apply partial activity.
CONSTRUCTION
In the sector CONSTRUCTION: titleContent, the employer may decide to stop a work site because of bad weather when it makes it unsafe or impossible to carry out the work.
An employee who has stopped work due to bad weather may have his loss of wages compensated under certain conditions by compensation in the form of unemployment-bad weather.
The employer may also decide to recover the hours.
Warning
An employee who is unable to go to work due to bad weather cannot be compensated by the unemployment-bad weather scheme.
Weather conditions (periods of heat, snow, frost, ice, rain, and strong wind) and flooding that make work unsafe or impossible are considered to be inclement weather.
This impossibility may be linked to the health or safety of employees, but also to the nature or technique of the work to be performed.
FYI
Periods, for which Météo-France issues a threshold of orange vigilance or red vigilance “ heat wave allow compensation for work stoppages due to bad weather.
The employer decides on the work stoppage, checks the rights of employees and declares the work stoppage.
He also declares the wages to the paid leave fund and decides on the date of resumption of work.
When the employee leaves the company, he gives him a certificate.
Decision on the stoppage of work
The stoppage of work in case of bad weather is decided by the employer or his representative on the site after consulting the Social and Economic Committee (ESC) when it exists in the company.
When the work is done for an administration, a public community, a licensed service or subsidized, the representative of the contracting authority may oppose the cessation of work.
Verification of the employee's entitlement to unemployment benefit
The employer must verify that the employee meets the conditions required to be entitled to the temporary allowances.
In particular, he must check that the employee has worked 200 hours during the last 2 months in a company CONSTRUCTION: titleContent.
In addition, he has the employee sign a declaration of the number of days already compensated since the 1er January for unemployment-bad weather. This declaration must be sent to the paid leave fund with the refund application.
Declaration of work stoppage
The employer shall send the statement of work stoppage and request for reimbursement of the allowances paid to employees to the paid leave fund:
Declaration of work stoppage and request for reimbursement in bad weather (net-bad weather BTP)
The company shall forward to the Social and Economic Committee (ESC), at its request, the information on the schedule concerning the number of hours lost due to bad weather and their dates.
The slip must reach the paid leave fund within 1 month of the return to work.
Reporting of wages to the paid leave fund
Companies must report periodically and at least every 3 months to the paid leave fund.
This statement shall include, in particular, a statement of the wages and salaries used trim to the contribution.
Return to work
The date of resumption of work for the unemployed employee shall be decided by the employer or the supervisor's representative on the construction sites.
It is brought to the employee's attention by a notice posted at the headquarters or office of the company or at the entrance of the site.
Issuance of a certificate to the employee leaving the company
The employer shall issue a certificate to the employee who leaves the company.
It shall note, for the period of calendar year in progress during which he was employed in the company, the number of hours and the periods during which he received unemployment-bad weather.
When placed on unemployment-bad weather, the employee remains at the employer’s disposal and must return to work as soon as the construction site reopens.
Employee Availability
During periods of unemployment and bad weather, the employee remains at the disposal of the company which employed him at the time of the stoppage of work throughout the period of inactivity of the construction site.
The employee loses his right to compensation if he refuses to carry out the work requested by his company, when this work can be carried out during the bad weather. This is particularly the case if the work can be done in a workshop or office.
The employer who employs the employee during the bad weather shall keep him for the duration of the work the salary he received before the stoppage of work due to the bad weather.
The hours thus paid shall be deducted from the hours of unemployment giving rise to compensation.
FYI
Employees who have been arrested for bad weather may be made available by their company to public authorities for work of general interest.
Return to work
The date of resumption of work shall be notified to the employee by means of a notice posted at the company's headquarters or office or at the entrance to the site.
An employee who does not return to work as soon as the work site reopens shall cease to be entitled to the allowance as from the date of such reopening.
All employees of companies who contribute to the unemployment-inclement weather scheme may be compensated irrespective of the amount and nature of their remuneration.
In order to be compensated, the employees must work on the construction site which has been stopped due to bad weather.
Temporary employees made available to a company of the CONSTRUCTION: titleContent are compensated by the temporary company of work.
This allowance is payable when the employees of the user company who work on the same site are paid on unemployment insurance.
Minimum working time and waiting period must be respected.
There is also a limit on the number of hours that can be compensated and a limit on the amount of compensation.
FYI
Only heatwave periods in connection with orange vigilance or red vigilance allow compensation for work stoppages due to bad weather.
Bills of Material | Activities concerned | ||
|---|---|---|---|
330 | 330-0 | BUILDING AND PUBLIC WORKS company, GENERAL BUILDING COMPANY | |
330-1 | building company engaged in ancillary public works activities | ||
330-2 | building and public works company | ||
330-3 | general building company | ||
331 | 331-0 | COMPANY OF MASONRY, PLASTERWORK, CEMENT WORKS, CONCRETE, REINFORCED CONCRETE FOR THE BUILDING, EARTHMOVING AND DEMOLITION COMPANY FOR THE BUILDING | |
331-1 | earthmoving and masonry company for building, well foundations and consolidation for building | ||
331-11 | Company of earthmoving and building piping, well foundations and building consolidation | ||
331-13 | Company of cut stones, reworking, gargoillage (preparation, cutting and implementation of building stones in construction sites), reworking of stone facade. Application of coatings for hardening stones, fluation, silicatization. | ||
331-14 | building demolition company | ||
331-15 | Company of building scaffolding | ||
331-16 | Company of laying and shaping of building marble, marble-laying | ||
331-17 | Company for supplying prepared concrete | ||
331-2 | Company of work in cement, concrete, reinforced concrete for the building: piles cast in excavation, assembly of prefabricated houses in cement | ||
331-3 | Plastering company: plaster partitions, ceilings, plaster ceilings | ||
332 | 332-0 | WOODEN FRAME, CARPENTRY OF THE BUILDING, INSTALLATION (ASSOCIATED OR NOT WITH MANUFACTURE) Classify as 237-2 the manufacture of metal carpentry (without installation), except for companies for the manufacture of stage decorations | |
332-1 | timber frame company | ||
332-11 | Company for the assembly of wooden houses (prefabricated) | ||
332-2 | Company for the manufacture and installation of building carpentry, the resurfacing and varnishing of parquet floors, the installation of parquet floors and the manufacture of stage decorations, wooden lattices and fences, blinds, shutters and shutters, stairway handrails | ||
332-3 | Company of associated framework and carpentry | ||
333 | 333-0 | PLUMBING BLANKET (with or without heating system) | |
333-1 | Cover in all materials: slates, tiles, shingles, cardboard, bitumen cardboard, copper, zinc (building plating), thatch, straw, reed | ||
333-2 | Plumbing, sanitary facilities | ||
333-3 | Covering company, plumbing (without heating company) | ||
333-4 | cover company, plumbing and heating | ||
333-5 | Plumbing, Heating and Electricity Installation | ||
333-6 | Sealing: protection work against water and all other fluids: company of health work, sanitary work | ||
334 | 334-0 | BUILDING LOCKWORK. Small iron framework, metal carpentry, ironwork for the building, metal fences (associated manufacture and installation or installation only) | |
334-1 | Building Locksmith (installation and repair) | ||
334-2 | Small iron framework for the building (associated manufacture and installation) | ||
334-3 | Carpentry and metal closures (manufacture and fitting thereof) | ||
334-4 | Ironwork for the building (associated manufacture and installation): balconies, stairways, grills, etc. | ||
334-5 | Small iron frame for the building (laying) | ||
334-6 | Metal fences (installation) | ||
334-7 | Company of metal supplies and reinforcements prepared for reinforced concrete. | ||
335 | 335-0 | BUILDING FUMISTRY, SWEEPING, HEATING PLANT AND HOT WATER PRODUCTION | |
335-1 | Building fume shop. | ||
335-11 | Frying stoves: manufacture and installation of earthenware, earthen, earthenware and earthen stoves, low-cost fireplaces. | ||
335-12 | Ramonage: cleaning chimneys, ovens and ovens | ||
335-3 | Construction and maintenance of masonry bakery ovens | ||
336 | 336-0 | BUILDING PAINTING, DECORATION | |
336-1 | Painting, building painting: application of plasters, fireproofing company | ||
336-11 | Painting | ||
336-12 | Industrial Painting: High-height structural paint, pylons, metal bridges, etc | ||
336-13 | Collage of wallpaper, wallpaper; concealment | ||
336-14 | Spinning and decoration | ||
336-15 | Painting letters and attributes | ||
336-16 | Gilding in a building | ||
336-17 | Liquid wall coverings | ||
336-18 | Advertising on buildings and painted posters | ||
336-2 | Miscellaneous installations in buildings | ||
336-21 | Installation of windows, ice-creams, display cases | ||
336-3 | Painting, plastering, glazing (associated)- plastering Company: plaster partitions, ceiling, plaster ceilings. | ||
337 | 337-0 | DEVELOPMENT OF VARIOUS PREMISES | |
337-03 | Placing of signs, blinds | ||
338 | 338-0 | METALLIC CONSTRUCTION FOR BUILDING, PUBLIC WORKS AND CIVIL ENGINEERING (associated manufacture and installation or installation only) | |
338-1 | Metal construction for building (related manufacturing and laying) | ||
338-2 | Metal construction for public works and civil engineering (associated manufacturing and installation) | ||
338-3 | Metal construction for building (installation only) | ||
338-4 | Steel construction for public works and civil engineering (installation only) | ||
338-5 | Metal houses (manufacture and installation) | ||
339 | 339-0 | INSTALLATION OF ELECTRICITY IN RESIDENTIAL PREMISES, SHOPS, OFFICES, INDUSTRIAL AND OTHER BUILDINGS, ETC., INSTALLATION OF LUMINOUS SIGNS | |
339-01 | Electricity installation associated with locksmith | ||
339-02 | Installation of electricity in living quarters (nda) and installation of illuminated signs | ||
340 | 340-0 | PUBLIC WORKS AND CIVIL ENGINEERING company (including those engaged in ancillary building activities): company of concrete and reinforced concrete for public works and civil engineering | |
340-1 | general company of public works and civil engineering (sai) | ||
340-2 | public works and civil engineering company engaged in building activities as an ancillary activity | ||
341 | 341-0 | EARTHWORKS, RURAL AND UNDERGROUND WORKS | |
341-01 | Elevation-associated earthworks company. Soil restoration: Ditch, well clearing, drainage, marsh draining and peatlands. Irrigation works. Company of earthworks associated with foundations by compression of the ground. | ||
341-02 | pile foundation company | ||
341-03 | Company of boreholes, boreholes, wells. Suction Trees | ||
341-04 | Company of deep drilling or boreholes | ||
341-05 | Company for sealing and consolidating soils | ||
341-06 | underground work company | ||
342 | 342-0 | MARITIME AND RIVER WORKS (except bridges and roadways) | |
342-01 | Specialized pile and sheet pile driving company | ||
342-02 | dredging and deregistering company | ||
342-03 | wreck demolition company | ||
342-04 | Company of diver and frog-man | ||
342-05 | Company of work in compressed air | ||
343 | 343-0 | ROAD AND AERODROME WORKS (excl. bridge and road services) | |
343-01 | paving company | ||
343-02 | Concrete cement or clay coating company | ||
343-03 | Company for the construction of earth stabilized runways | ||
343-04 | Coating company of materials coated with hydrocarbon binders | ||
343-05 | roll company | ||
344 | 344-0 | TRACK WORK (except work performed by the transport companies themselves). | |
345 | 345-0 | URBAN WORKS AND PUBLIC HYGIENE WORKS: distribution networks. | |
345-01 | Construction of water abstraction, supply and distribution structures | ||
345-02 | Sewer construction | ||
345-03 | Installations for the purification of drinking water or waste water; company for the mechanical cleaning of pipes | ||
346 | 346-0 | COMPANY OF ELECTRICITY NETWORKS AND POWER PLANTS (except work performed by the electricity companies themselves) | |
347 | 347-0 | LONG-DISTANCE PIPING company (water, gas, hydrocarbons, etc.) | |
348 | 348-0 | INDUSTRIAL FUMISTERIE, INDUSTRIAL THERMAL INSTALLATIONS, COLD ROOMS | |
348-1 | Construction of industrial furnaces and ovens of refractory materials: brick furnaces and furnaces, masonry furnaces; construction works of coke ovens, gas ovens, etc., of refractory materials | ||
348-2 | Industrial fumistry of refractory materials | ||
348-21 | Construction of brick factory chimneys, boiler fire masonry, refractory masonry works (nda) | ||
349 | 349-0 | EXTERNAL SERVICES OF BRIDGES AND ROADWAYS (departmental) AND RELATED SERVICES | |
The weather-unemployment scheme is also applicable to open-air quarries extracting materials for construction purposes and which are directly operated by construction companies.
Minimum duration of work performed
Employees may be entitled to an unemployment benefit if they have worked at least 200 hours in the two months preceding the work stoppage.
Waiting period
The daily weather allowance is due for each hour lost from the 2nde during the same week or during a continuous period of downtime.
Compensation Limits
The maximum number of hours of work that can be compensated is set at 9 hours per day up to a maximum of 45 hours per week.
The employee does not, since the 1er January of the year, to have been compensated for more than 55 days for bad weather.
The compensation limit is set at 75% salary.
The daily weather allowance is paid to the employee by his company on the regular pay date.
It is not due to the temporarily unfit employee.
It does not overlap with the daily allowances of:
It does not add up to unemployment insurance.
It shall no longer be payable if the employee pursues another activity as an employed person during the period of cessation of work.
Workers who have not resumed work on the construction site will cease to be entitled to any compensation.
FYI
Workers who carry out another activity as an employed person during the period of absence from work compensated for by unemployment and bad weather must reimburse the allowances to the paid leave fund concerned.
The company is reimbursed by the paid leave funds for the allowances paid to its employees.
The employer may not dismiss an employee during the period of inactivity of the work site on which he is employed.
This prohibition shall not apply in the event of serious misconduct on the part of the person concerned or in the event of stoppage of works by the supervisor at public works sites.
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He does not respond questions relating to unemployment compensation and representations to France Labor (formerly Pôle emploi), the officials or contractual of the fpublic service, the amount or payment of contributions social, wage or management.
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Companies of building and public works deprived of jobs as a result of bad weather
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