I've discovered France has an amazing social system which considers that we should all have access to quality health care and a minimum of comfort in life. Some agree with this way of thinking, while others think that it encourages laziness. I'll try to avoid giving any particular judgment. I will however, share with you my own ups and downs or "deboires" with the system to help you avoid any problems i've encountered, and who knows - you might see the subject in a whole new way...
For me, work is a normal part of life - neccessary even! Unlike many French, I don't see it as a form of slavery for the rich. I think work can keep the mind sharp, provide a social life, a goal, and money. Unfortunately times are hard and at one point, I found myself unemployed and "living off the system". Well, that's not entirely true. You see - i was unemployed but also had jobs off and on during my whole unemployment. I WANTED to work, so when I found work that's what I did - WORK.
No one really asks how the system deals with people like me, but I'll tell you anyways. They deal with us POORLY.
If you are unemployed and don't work at all, you get a regular allowance from the Pole Emploi based on a percentage of what you made in your previous job. Normal enough, right? Well, if you are honest and tell them that you've worked at all - they deduct that salary from your monthly allowance and you need to send them a copy of your payslip to prove how many hours you worked and the amount you made.
It is possible to work part-time, or full-time on CDD and still receive unemployment. Special rules and limits apply, so be sure to get all the legal and financial details before considering this option.
If you work while unemployed you'll have to :
- send a copy of your payslips each month
- Make photocopies of said documents
- send the documents by the post
If you do not have access to free photocopies, enveloppes, and postage stamps, you will pay for this yourself. If for some reason they didn't receive or "find" those documents, they may deduct your previously paid allowance and threaten you with removing your unemployment rights entirely.This happened to me every 3 months or so.
An arrêt maladie complicates the life of unemployed individuals. If you send in the official sick leave /arrêt de travail papers and declare it to Pole Emploi, Pole Emploi will not pay you the number of days you were "sick". You may also find that Security Social won't pay you either. Unless - you bring in a COPY of the following documents :
- Notification de prise en charge of Pole Emploi
- All of your Pole Emploi avis de paiement mensuel /monthly payslips from registration day to present
- All your Pole Emploi payment summaries /récapitualatif d'indemnisation from day 1 to present
- The last 4 fiches de paie/payslips of your employeur previous to unemployment
- The certificat de travail of the same employeur given at the time of leaving
- All the payslips you've received since unemployment if you worked at any time.
If you have been unemployed for a while, and/or have had many jobs during your unemployment period, this task will be huge! Once again, you may have to pay for your own photocopies, envelopes, faxes, transportation etc to resolve this and finally receive your allowance.
I feel as though I have been punished for being truthful (having official contracts instead of being paid under the table "au black", and saying I was unavailable for health reasons after an accident.) It also makes me feel like I was punished for working, and passes the message that short-term contracts are not acceptable or have little value in today's society.
I'm quite upset about French bureaucracy right now -and I'm sure many of you understand. It's almost as though i've had to fight e-v-e-r-y inch of the way only to be slapped and told not to rock the boat and stay silently unemployed. I for one have been FIGHTING to get employed. I've even created many of these opportunities myself. Those small contracts help me network, increase my customer base, and can help me start a company one day..
Hopefully I'll survive all this French bureaucracy. And hopefully, so will you!