Flu pandemic

If you are a French national living and working abroad, it is in your interest to keep abreast of what is happening in your native country as well as your host country via the various media, Internet, your family and your professional contacts. It is essential that you keep informed about French government recommendations in the event of a pandemic through the consulate, but also about the organisation set up by your company.

During an influenza pandemic, if you are working abroad and your employment contract is subject to French law, your employer must assume responsibility for the risks linked to your expatriation. Below are a few scenarios to be considered.

The employer may wish to interrupt your assignment abroad or anticipate your repatriation. As with any change to your employment contract, this option may be suggested to you but not imposed, unless it is provided for by clauses in the employment contract. For more detailed information, you should refer to your employment contract and the repatriation conditions (methods and who bears the costs).

If you are in a high-risk area and have requested permission to return home but your employer refuses, you may be entitled to invoke the “right to withdraw” under the right conditions.

If the situation in your host country or in France makes it impossible for you to return to France, and therefore to your place of work, you cannot be considered as having resigned or abandoned your post.