Partial-time progressive retirement: why you'll emerge victorious starting September
Living Life Post-50 with Ease: The French Government's Proposal for Seamless Transition
by Charlotte Rousset Journalist in the Employment section of our website, specializing in social law, career, and worker remuneration topics. Published on
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"Let's break free from the old-fashioned thinking about retirement, where people are either full-blow active or completely done", Minister of Labor Astrid Panosyan-Bouvet stated on May 7. This "French idiosyncrasy" could explain why work-time adaptability schemes at retirement age are so rarely used in France. "Each year, only around 0.5% of retirees utilize the progressive retirement option", she laments. The government aims to change this with the bill on employment for those aged 50 and over, presented on May 7. This text, which aligns with the interprofessional national agreements (ANI) signed in November 2024 among social partners and employers, aims to smooth out the final stages of careers for employees nearing retirement.
Reducing Refusals of Work-Time Adaptability
Notably, by requiring employers to justify their reasons for denying work-time adaptability. In essence, if you wished to scale down your working hours to 80%, whether in the context of progressive retirement or any other request for part-time work, your employer could no longer reject your request outright. Now, they will need to offer specific, justifiable reasons: either prove that your reduced presence would endanger the company, or demonstrate that it's impossible to fill your vacant position. In the absence of valid grounds, the employer will be compelled to grant your request.
Advance Retirement Departure Bonuses, a Sweetener Included in the New Senior CDI unveiled in September
Second good news: If you scale down your work hours during your last few years, a company agreement might permit you to receive your retirement departure bonus in installments over time, to offset the loss of income. For example, a 60-year-old plumber with 30 years of experience may decide to cut back his working hours to 70% starting January 2026. Instead of waiting until his final departure to receive his two months' retirement severance pay, his employer would pay him a fraction of this amount each month to supplement his wages. The balance would be paid in a lump sum upon his actual retirement.
Beginning Implementation by September?
Asked about the timeline after the ministerial council, Astrid Panosyan-Bouvet shows her impatience. "It's time to move things forward." The bill will be considered in the Senate as early as June 5, then in the National Assembly swiftly afterwards. "If the timeline is upheld, the measures will take effect as early as September 2025**," confirms a source from the Ministry of Labor. This quick deployment would align closely with the decrees on progressive retirement, which will open this option to all employees and civil servants from the age of 60 starting September 1, 2025.
Progressive Retirement: Good News Looms for Employees and Civil Servants At what age will you be eligible for a full pension?
[1] https://www.franceinfo.fr/societe/emploi/reforme-pension-la-hausse-de-la-retrait-a-64-d-ici-5-ans-est-elle-inevitable-642285[2] https://www.leparisien.fr/société/reforme-pension-3-mesures-concretes-qu-a-t-elle-decidée-l-etat-29-01-2023-6564668.php[3] https://www.afp.com/france/societe/french-govt-pension-reform-savings-ambitious-new-plans-20230320565600[4] https://www.lesechos.fr/politique-et-economie/editorial-reforme-pension-une-quete-insensee-2352229[5] https://www.france24.com/fr/monde/20210521-en-france-la-reforme-des-retraites-bourre-les-fonds-preretraite-est-elle-ineluctable
Around this article: employment, senior citizens, unemployment
- Minister Astrid Panosyan-Bouvet's proposal aims to break the traditional retirement mindset, promoting work-time adaptability schemes among senior citizens, a practice rarely used in France.
- The French government's bill on employment for those aged 50 and over, presented on May 7, aligns with ANI agreements and aims to ease the transition of employees approaching retirement.
- The bill requires employers to justify reasons for denying work-time adaptability, ensuring that reductions in working hours cannot be rejected outright.
- Advance retirement departure bonuses, previously unveiled in September, will help offset income loss for employees reducing their hours, paying the bonus in installments over time.
- The ministerial council shows impatience about the timeline, with the bill expected to be considered in the Senate by June 5, moving swiftly to the National Assembly thereafter, potentially taking effect as early as September 2025.
- The quick deployment of these measures is expected to align with the decrees on progressive retirement, opening the option to employees and civil servants aged 60 from September 1, 2025, while debates on the retirement age continue in politics, science, workplace-wellness, health-and-wellness, policy-and-legislation, and general news.
