French Employment law - Right to disconnect – The employer does not breach their obligations when an employee spontaneously checks emails during sick leave (cass. Soc. March 25th, 26, 24-21.098)

In a ruling dated March 25, 2026 (24-21.098), the French Supreme Court held that an employee who spontaneously replies to emails during sick leave cannot claim compensation for damages resulting from a breach of their right to disconnect. Contrary to the employee's argument in support of his appeal, it is not the employer's responsibility to actively oppose any attempt by the employee to connect to work during sick leave.

An employee who spontaneously checks work emails during sick leave and cannot demonstrate that they were obligated to do so immediately cannot claim damages.

Furthermore, the absence of a Right to Disconnect Charter is not, in itself, sufficient to infer a violation of the employee's right to disconnect causing them harm.

With this ruling, the Court of Cassation seeks to hold accountable employees who are unable to connect voluntarily and without being compelled to do so by their employer, and who subsequently claim a violation of their right to disconnect in order to seek compensation.

Furthermore, the employer's failure to implement a "system dedicated to the implementation of the right to disconnect" and to object when the employee voluntarily connected to check emails does not constitute a violation entitling them to compensation.

This ruling could potentially be applied to other periods during which the employee is not working and to which the right to disconnect applies: during vacation, weekends, or evenings.

Sources :

• Cass. soc. 25 mars 2026, n°24-21.098 (Pourvoi n°24-21.098 | Cour de cassation) ;
• CA Besançon 28 mai 2024, RG 23/00118 (Décision Cour d'appel de Besançon : RG n°23/00118 | Cour de cassation)
• Article L.2242-17 du Code du travail (Article L2242-17 - Code du travail - Légifrance)

Il faut créer un droit à la déconnexion pour les avocats collaborateurs du Barreau de Paris ! https://consultation.avocat.fr/blog/frederic-chhum/article-19091-il-faut-creer-un-droit-a-la-deconnexion-pour-les-avocats-collaborateurs-du-barreau-de-paris.html

Salariés, cadres, cadres dirigeants - Droit à la déconnexion des salariés : lire ou relire les articles de CHHUM AVOCATS (Paris, Nantes) https://consultation.avocat.fr/blog/frederic-chhum/article-25193-salaries-cadres-cadres-dirigeants-droit-a-la-deconnexion-des-salaries-lire-ou-relire-les-articles-de-chhum-avocats-paris-nantes.html

Droit à la déconnexion des salariés à partir du 1er janvier 2017 : comment le mettre en place ? https://www.village-justice.com/articles/Droit-deconnexion-des-salaries-partir-1er-janvier-2017-comment-mettre-place,23821.html

Droit à la déconnexion : modèles d’accord collectif et de charte pour les entreprises et syndicats. https://www.village-justice.com/articles/DROIT-DECONNEXION-Modeles-accord-collectif-charte-pour-les-entreprises,24080.html

Frédéric CHHUM avocat et ancien membre du conseil de l’ordre des avocats de Paris (mandat 2019-2021)

Audrey PEYNAUD juriste

CHHUM AVOCATS (Paris, Nantes, Lille)

e-mail: chhum@chhum-avocats.com

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