Telework in the Public Service
Verified 01 January 2025 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
Additional cases ?
Are you a public official and want to know if you can telework? Want to know your rights and obligations when you're teleworking? We're here to talk about the rules for telework in the public service. They differ according to your public service of origin (State - FPE, territorial - FPT, hospital - FPH).
EPF
Telework is a form of work organization that allows you to work away from your regular work premises through information and communication technologies.
If your employer authority has made telework possible, you are allowed to telework at your request.
However, in exceptional circumstances, teleworking may also be introduced at the request of the administration to ensure the continuity of the public service and the protection of staff.
Warning
Periods of standby duty (i.e. periods during which you must stay at home, at the disposal of your administration) and interventions during a standby duty do not constitute telework.
You can do some of your work remotely, whether you are official or contractor, if this activity can be carried out remotely, by means of computer tools.
The conditions for setting up telework are laid down by ministerial decree.
This Order sets out the following points:
- Activities which may be carried out by teleworking
- List and location of any professional premises made available by the administration for the exercise of teleworking functions, number of workstations available and equipment
- Rules to be observed on the security of information systems and data protection
- Working time, safety and health protection rules
- Conditions for access to bodies responsible for ensuring the application of health and safety rules at the place of telework
- Conditions for monitoring and recording working time
- Conditions for the management to bear the costs directly arising from the exercise of telework (hardware, software, subscriptions, communications, tools, maintenance of this equipment)
- Training conditions for equipment and tools necessary for teleworking
- Conditions for issuing the certificate of conformity of the installations with the technical specifications if you are teleworking at home or in another private place.
Regular or occasional telework
Telework authorization may be granted for a regular or ad hoc recourse telework.
It may provide for the allocation of fixed telework days during the week or month.
You can inform your supervisor of your need to come onsite on a day for which you are authorized to telework and request to relocate that day.
If it is necessary or easy to organize or carry out your work, you can decide to carry out your activities in your workplace.
Your administration may ask you to inform your supervisor.
The telework authorization may also provide for the allocation of a number of floating telework days per week, per month, or per year that you can request from your line manager.
The same telework authorization may provide for these different possibilities.
Telework locations
You can telework in your home or in a other private place or in a other business premises (such as a telecentre).
The same telework authorization may provide for these different possibilities.
Allowed number of telework days
The maximum number of telework days is set at 3 days a week for a full-time officer.
The number of working days in the service or the usual premises cannot be less than 2.
These thresholds can be calculated on a monthly basis.
However, if your medical condition or disability warrants it, you can ask to telework more than 3 days a week, for a maximum of 6 months renewable, after the opinion of the occupational doctor.
You can also request to telework more than 3 days per week in the following cases :
- During your pregnancy
- If you meet the conditions for a caregiving leave
- Temporarily due to an exceptional situation disrupting access to the service or work on site.
Hardware
Your Employer Authority covers costs arising directly from the exercise of your telework duties : cost of hardware, software, subscriptions, communications and tools.
Your employer administration also maintains the equipment.
The conditions for this take-over are defined by ministerial decree.
The administration is not obliged to cover the cost of renting space for telework (in the case of telework).
If you are disabled, the administration can make the necessary job adjustments at your telework location.
However, these adjustments must not lead to expenditure which is disproportionate to the financial assistance available to the administration.
If you request the use of floating telework days or request temporary telework, the administration may authorize you to use your personal computer equipment.
Formulation of the application by the official
You must submit your telework request by written.
You have to specify what the desired teleworking conditions : regular or ad hoc recourse, place(s) of telework, number of days desired.
If you wish to telework at home or in another private location, you must provide a certificate of conformity of the installations with the technical specifications.
If you change functions, you must submit a new telework request.
Your employer authority may have a telework application form in place. Check with your line manager.
Examination of the application by the administration
Your employer administration will consider whether your request is compatible with the nature of your business and the interest of the service.
Your administration will notify you in writing of its decision within one month from the date of receipt of your request.
When your administration organizes a census of applications campaign, it responds within one month of the application deadline.
Decision of the administration
Your telework request may be accepted or rejected.
Acceptance
The authorization to perform your duties by teleworking may provide for a adjustment period of up to 3 months.
The authorization shall contain the following information:
- Functions exercised in teleworking
- Location(s) of telework
- Conditions for the implementation of telework and, if applicable, the duration and time slots during which you carry out your telework activities, are available to your employer administration and can be reached, in accordance with your work cycle or the usual working hours
- Start date of telework.
The written authorization for telework is accompanied by an information document indicating the conditions of application of telework to your professional situation.
This document shall specify in particular the nature and operation of the arrangements for monitoring and recording your working time.
It also specifies the equipment available to you and their conditions of installation and return.
This document specifies the conditions of use, renewal and maintenance and the technical support provided by the administration.
The written authorization for telework shall also be accompanied by the following documents:
- Copy of the conditions for setting up telework laid down by ministerial order
- Document recalling your rights and obligations with regard to working time and health and safety
Refusal
If your administration refuses you telework, its refusal should be motivated and be preceded by an interview.
You can enter the HEADINGHEADING : Joint Administrative Commission, if you are a public servant, or the CCPCCP : Joint Consultative Commission, if you are a contractual person, in case of refusal to a 1re request or request for renewal of telework.
Working time
Your time and workload remain the same whether you are working on-site or working from home.
The maximum daily and weekly working hours, rest periods, breaks and the counting of working time are identical on-site and in telework.
Your supervisor shall, in consultation with you, determine the time slots during which he may contact you, in accordance with the working hours in force in your department.
In case of variable hours during the telework period, the call time slots are defined in the telework authorization.
During the annual assessment interview, your supervisor should have an exchange with you about the conditions of your telework activity and your workload.
Accident at work
You have the same rights and obligations as an officer who works on the premises of the administration.
An accident that occurs during telework hours and in the course of your telework duties is considered to be an accident at work.
An accident may be considered as a journey accident in the following situations:
- Trip between home and work (if your work location is different from home), including detours for everyday needs (drop off and pick up of children, etc.)
- Trip between your telework location and the service, in case of temporary exceptional return to your service on a telework day
- Travel between your telework location and your usual food service location during the working day.
Support of costs
You are entitled to an allowance to help reimburse costs incurred as a result of telework.
This allowance takes the form of a lump sum allowance called telework package.
The telework package can be paid to you if you telework in a telecentre, provided that the telecentre does not offer a catering service funded by your employer's administration.
The amount of the telework package is set at €2.88 per day of telework carried out up to €253.44 per year (i.e. 88 days paid).
The telework package is paid at the end of each quarter.
The telework package is paid on the basis of the number of telework days you have requested and authorized.
Where appropriate, it may be adjusted on the basis of the days of telework actually carried out during the year.
This regularization takes place at the end of 1er quarter of the following year.
Meal costs
Your meal expenses on teleworked days are at your expense.
However, if you work remotely by telecentre, your employer administration may arrange a specific agreement with an administrative restaurant near your telecentre.
If your employer authority awards restaurant titles, you benefit, when you are teleworking, from these restaurant titles.
Telework may be terminated at any time, in writing, at your request or at the initiative of your employer's administration, respecting a 2-month advance notice period.
When your jurisdiction terminates telework, the advance notice may be reduced in the event of service requirement motivated.
The interruption of telework at the initiative of the administration must be justified and preceded by an interview.
When telework is terminated during the adjustment period, the notice period is 1 month.
If you request an end to telework, you can still reapply for telework at a later time.
FPT
Telework is a form of work organization that allows you to work away from your regular work premises through information and communication technologies.
If your employer authority has made telework possible, you are allowed to telework at your request.
However, in exceptional circumstances, teleworking may also be introduced at the request of the administration to ensure the continuity of the public service and the protection of staff.
Warning
Periods of standby duty (i.e. periods during which you must stay at home, at the disposal of your administration) and interventions during a standby duty do not constitute telework.
You can do some of your work remotely, whether you are official or contractor, if this activity can be carried out remotely, by means of computer tools.
The conditions for setting up telework shall be laid down by deliberation.
This deliberation shall set out the following points:
- Activities which may be carried out by teleworking
- List and location of any professional premises made available by the administration for the exercise of teleworking functions, number of workstations available and equipment
- Rules to be observed on the security of information systems and data protection
- Working time, safety and health protection rules
- Conditions for access to bodies responsible for ensuring the application of health and safety rules at the place of telework
- Conditions for monitoring and recording working time
- Conditions for the management to bear the costs directly arising from the exercise of telework (hardware, software, subscriptions, communications, tools, maintenance of this equipment)
- Training conditions for equipment and tools necessary for teleworking
- Conditions for issuing the certificate of conformity of the installations with the technical specifications if you are teleworking at home or in another private place.
Regular or occasional telework
Telework authorization may be granted for a regular or ad hoc recourse telework.
It may provide for the allocation of fixed telework days during the week or month.
You can inform your supervisor of your need to come onsite on a day for which you are authorized to telework and request to relocate that day.
If it is necessary or easy to organize or carry out your work, you can decide to carry out your activities in your workplace.
Your administration may ask you to inform your supervisor.
The telework authorization may also provide for the allocation of a number of floating telework days per week, per month, or per year that you can request from your line manager.
The same telework authorization may provide for these different possibilities.
Telework locations
You can telework in your home or in a other private place or in a other business premises (such as a telecentre).
The same telework authorization may provide for these different possibilities.
Allowed number of telework days
The maximum number of telework days is set at 3 days a week for a full-time officer.
The number of working days in the service or the usual premises cannot be less than 2.
These thresholds can be calculated on a monthly basis.
However, if your medical condition or disability warrants it, you can ask to telework more than 3 days a week, for a maximum of 6 months renewable, after the opinion of the occupational doctor.
You can also request to telework more than 3 days per week in the following cases :
- During your pregnancy
- If you meet the conditions for a caregiving leave
- Temporarily due to an exceptional situation disrupting access to the service or work on site.
Hardware
Your Employer Authority covers costs arising directly from the exercise of your telework duties : cost of hardware, software, subscriptions, communications and tools.
Your employer administration also maintains the equipment.
The conditions for this take-over are defined by ministerial decree.
The administration is not obliged to cover the cost of renting space for telework (in the case of telework).
If you are disabled, the administration can make the necessary job adjustments at your telework location.
However, these adjustments must not lead to expenditure which is disproportionate to the financial assistance available to the administration.
If you request the use of floating telework days or request temporary telework, the administration may authorize you to use your personal computer equipment.
Formulation of the application by the official
You must submit your telework request by written.
You have to specify what the desired teleworking conditions : regular or ad hoc recourse, place(s) of telework, number of days desired.
If you wish to telework at home or in another private location, you must provide a certificate of conformity of the installations with the technical specifications.
If you change functions, you must submit a new telework request.
Your employer authority may have a telework application form in place. Check with your line manager.
Examination of the application by the administration
Your employer community will consider whether your application is consistent with the nature of your business and the value of the service.
Your community will notify you in writing of its decision within one month of receiving your application.
When your community runs a census campaign, it responds within one month of the application deadline.
Decision of the administration
Your telework request may be accepted or rejected.
Acceptance
The authorization to perform your duties by teleworking may provide for a adjustment period of up to 3 months.
The authorization shall contain the following information:
- Functions exercised in teleworking
- Location(s) of telework
- Conditions for the implementation of telework and, if applicable, the duration and time slots during which you carry out your telework activities, are available to your employer administration and can be reached, in accordance with your work cycle or the usual working hours
- Start date of telework.
The written authorization for telework is accompanied by an information document indicating the conditions of application of telework to your professional situation.
This document shall specify in particular the nature and operation of the arrangements for monitoring and recording your working time.
It also specifies the equipment available to you and their conditions of installation and return.
This document specifies the conditions of use, renewal and maintenance and the technical support provided by the administration.
The written authorization for telework shall also be accompanied by the following documents:
- Copy of the conditions for setting up telework laid down by ministerial order
- Document recalling your rights and obligations with regard to working time and health and safety
Refusal
If your administration refuses you telework, its refusal should be motivated and be preceded by an interview.
You can enter the HEADINGHEADING : Joint Administrative Commission, if you are a public servant, or the CCPCCP : Joint Consultative Commission, if you are a contractual person, in case of refusal to a 1re request or request for renewal of telework.
Working time
Your time and workload remain the same whether you are working on-site or working from home.
The maximum daily and weekly working hours, rest periods, breaks and the counting of working time are identical on-site and in telework.
Your supervisor shall, in consultation with you, determine the time slots during which he may contact you, in accordance with the working hours in force in your department.
In case of variable hours during the telework period, the call time slots are defined in the telework authorization.
During the annual assessment interview, your supervisor should have an exchange with you about the conditions of your telework activity and your workload.
Accident at work
You have the same rights and obligations as an officer who works on the premises of the administration.
An accident that occurs during telework hours and in the course of your telework duties is considered to be an accident at work.
An accident may be considered as a journey accident in the following situations:
- Trip between home and work (if your work location is different from home), including detours for everyday needs (drop off and pick up of children, etc.)
- Trip between your telework location and the service, in case of temporary exceptional return to your service on a telework day
- Travel between your telework location and your usual food service location during the working day.
Support of costs
You are entitled to an allowance to help reimburse costs incurred as a result of telework.
This allowance takes the form of a lump sum allowance called telework package.
The telework package can be paid to you if you telework in a telecentre, provided that the telecentre does not offer a catering service funded by your employer's administration.
The amount of the telework package is set at €2.88 per day of telework carried out up to €253.44 per year (i.e. 88 days paid).
The telework package is paid at the end of each quarter.
The telework package is paid on the basis of the number of telework days you have requested and authorized.
Where appropriate, it may be adjusted on the basis of the days of telework actually carried out during the year.
This regularization takes place at the end of 1er quarter of the following year.
Meal costs
Your meal expenses on teleworked days are at your expense.
However, if you work remotely by telecentre, your employer administration may arrange a specific agreement with an administrative restaurant near your telecentre.
If your employer authority awards restaurant titles, you benefit, when you are teleworking, from these restaurant titles.
Telework may be terminated at any time, in writing, at your request or at the initiative of your employer's administration, respecting a 2-month advance notice period.
When your jurisdiction terminates telework, the advance notice may be reduced in the event of service requirement motivated.
The interruption of telework at the initiative of the administration must be justified and preceded by an interview.
When telework is terminated during the adjustment period, the notice period is 1 month.
If you request an end to telework, you can still reapply for telework at a later time.
FPH
Telework is a form of work organization that allows you to work away from your regular work premises through information and communication technologies.
If your employer authority has made telework possible, you are allowed to telework at your request.
However, in exceptional circumstances, teleworking may also be introduced at the request of the administration to ensure the continuity of the public service and the protection of staff.
Warning
Periods of standby duty (i.e. periods during which you must stay at home, at the disposal of your administration) and interventions during a standby duty do not constitute telework.
You can do some of your work remotely, whether you are official or contractor, if this activity can be carried out remotely, by means of computer tools.
The conditions for setting up telework shall be laid down by decision of the head of establishment.
This Decision lays down the following points:
- Activities which may be carried out by teleworking
- List and location of any professional premises made available by the administration for the exercise of teleworking functions, number of workstations available and equipment
- Rules to be observed on the security of information systems and data protection
- Working time, safety and health protection rules
- Conditions for access to bodies responsible for ensuring the application of health and safety rules at the place of telework
- Conditions for monitoring and recording working time
- Conditions for the management to bear the costs directly arising from the exercise of telework (hardware, software, subscriptions, communications, tools, maintenance of this equipment)
- Training conditions for equipment and tools necessary for teleworking
- Conditions for issuing the certificate of conformity of the installations with the technical specifications if you are teleworking at home or in another private place.
For management staff managed by the National Management Center, the decision shall be taken by the following authority:
- Institutional head for assistant directors and directors of care
- Director-General of theARSARS : Regional Health Agency for heads of health institutions, heads ofEhpadEhpad : Accommodation for dependent elderly persons and heads of establishments caring for minors or adults with disabilities
- Prefect of the department for the staff of other establishments.
Regular or occasional telework
Telework authorization may be granted for a regular or ad hoc recourse telework.
It may provide for the allocation of fixed telework days during the week or month.
You can inform your supervisor of your need to come onsite on a day for which you are authorized to telework and request to relocate that day.
If it is necessary or easy to organize or carry out your work, you can decide to carry out your activities in your workplace.
Your administration may ask you to inform your supervisor.
The telework authorization may also provide for the allocation of a number of floating telework days per week, per month, or per year that you can request from your line manager.
The same telework authorization may provide for these different possibilities.
Telework locations
You can telework in your home or in a other private place or in a other business premises (such as a telecentre).
The same telework authorization may provide for these different possibilities.
Allowed number of telework days
The maximum number of telework days is set at 3 days a week for a full-time officer.
The number of working days in the service or the usual premises cannot be less than 2.
These thresholds can be calculated on a monthly basis.
However, if your medical condition or disability warrants it, you can ask to telework more than 3 days a week, for a maximum of 6 months renewable, after the opinion of the occupational doctor.
You can also request to telework more than 3 days per week in the following cases :
- During your pregnancy
- If you meet the conditions for a caregiving leave
- Temporarily due to an exceptional situation disrupting access to the service or work on site.
Hardware
Your Employer Authority covers costs arising directly from the exercise of your telework duties : cost of hardware, software, subscriptions, communications and tools.
Your employer administration also maintains the equipment.
The conditions for this take-over are defined by ministerial decree.
The administration is not obliged to cover the cost of renting space for telework (in the case of telework).
If you are disabled, the administration can make the necessary job adjustments at your telework location.
However, these adjustments must not lead to expenditure which is disproportionate to the financial assistance available to the administration.
If you request the use of floating telework days or request temporary telework, the administration may authorize you to use your personal computer equipment.
Formulation of the application by the official
You must submit your telework request by written.
You have to specify what the desired teleworking conditions : regular or ad hoc recourse, place(s) of telework, number of days desired.
If you wish to telework at home or in another private location, you must provide a certificate of conformity of the installations with the technical specifications.
If you change functions, you must submit a new telework request.
Your employer authority may have a telework application form in place. Check with your line manager.
Examination of the application by the administration
Your employing institution will consider the compatibility of your application with the nature of your business and the value of the service.
For management personnel managed by the National Management Center, this review shall be carried out by the following authority:
- Institutional head for assistant directors and directors of care
- Director-General of theARSARS : Regional Health Agency for heads of health institutions, heads ofEhpadEhpad : Accommodation for dependent elderly persons and heads of establishments caring for minors or adults with disabilities
- Prefect of the department for the staff of other establishments.
Your employing institution will notify you in writing of its decision within one month of the date of receipt of your request.
When your institution organizes a census campaign, it responds within one month of the application deadline.
Decision of the administration
Your telework request may be accepted or rejected.
Acceptance
The authorization to perform your duties by teleworking may provide for a adjustment period of up to 3 months.
The authorization shall contain the following information:
- Functions exercised in teleworking
- Location(s) of telework
- Conditions for the implementation of telework and, if applicable, the duration and time slots during which you carry out your telework activities, are available to your employer administration and can be reached, in accordance with your work cycle or the usual working hours
- Start date of telework.
The written authorization for telework is accompanied by an information document indicating the conditions of application of telework to your professional situation.
This document shall specify in particular the nature and operation of the arrangements for monitoring and recording your working time.
It also specifies the equipment available to you and their conditions of installation and return.
This document specifies the conditions of use, renewal and maintenance and the technical support provided by the administration.
The written authorization for telework shall also be accompanied by the following documents:
- Copy of the conditions for setting up telework laid down by ministerial order
- Document recalling your rights and obligations with regard to working time and health and safety
Refusal
If your administration refuses you telework, its refusal should be motivated and be preceded by an interview.
You can enter the HEADINGHEADING : Joint Administrative Commission, if you are a public servant, or the CCPCCP : Joint Consultative Commission, if you are a contractual person, in case of refusal to a 1re request or request for renewal of telework.
Working time
Your time and workload remain the same whether you are working on-site or working from home.
The maximum daily and weekly working hours, rest periods, breaks and the counting of working time are identical on-site and in telework.
Your supervisor shall, in consultation with you, determine the time slots during which he may contact you, in accordance with the working hours in force in your department.
In case of variable hours during the telework period, the call time slots are defined in the telework authorization.
During the annual assessment interview, your supervisor should have an exchange with you about the conditions of your telework activity and your workload.
Accident at work
You have the same rights and obligations as an officer who works on the premises of the administration.
An accident that occurs during telework hours and in the course of your telework duties is considered to be an accident at work.
An accident may be considered as a journey accident in the following situations:
- Trip between home and work (if your work location is different from home), including detours for everyday needs (drop off and pick up of children, etc.)
- Trip between your telework location and the service, in case of temporary exceptional return to your service on a telework day
- Travel between your telework location and your usual food service location during the working day.
Support of costs
You are entitled to an allowance to help reimburse costs incurred as a result of telework.
This allowance takes the form of a lump sum allowance called telework package.
The telework package can be paid to you if you telework in a telecentre, provided that the telecentre does not offer a catering service funded by your employer's administration.
The amount of the telework package is set at €2.88 per day of telework carried out up to €253.44 per year (i.e. 88 days paid).
The telework package is paid at the end of each quarter.
The telework package is paid on the basis of the number of telework days you have requested and authorized.
Where appropriate, it may be adjusted on the basis of the days of telework actually carried out during the year.
This regularization takes place at the end of 1er quarter of the following year.
Meal costs
Your meal expenses on teleworked days are at your expense.
However, if you work remotely by telecentre, your employer administration may arrange a specific agreement with an administrative restaurant near your telecentre.
If your employer authority awards restaurant titles, you benefit, when you are teleworking, from these restaurant titles.
Telework may be terminated at any time, in writing, at your request or at the initiative of your employer's administration, respecting a 2-month advance notice period.
When your jurisdiction terminates telework, the advance notice may be reduced in the event of service requirement motivated.
The interruption of telework at the initiative of the administration must be justified and preceded by an interview.
When telework is terminated during the adjustment period, the notice period is 1 month.
If you request an end to telework, you can still reapply for telework at a later time.
Ministry of Public Service