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Being sick in Luxembourg follows precise rules: inform your employer on day one, send your certificate within three days, and you are protected against dismissal. Salary and CNS benefits can continue for up to 78 weeks.
Falling ill does not put your job or income at risk in Luxembourg — provided you follow the procedure to the letter. Two deadlines matter: the first day and the third day.
From the moment the employer is informed on Day 1 and receives the medical certificate by Day 3, you are protected: the employer may not dismiss you, even with notice, for up to 26 weeks of continuous incapacity. A dismissal notified in violation of this protection is legally abusive. Warning: if you fail to inform or submit the certificate on time, protection does not apply, and unjustified absence can justify immediate dismissal for gross misconduct.
| Period | Who pays | How much |
|---|---|---|
| Until the end of the month containing the 77th day of incapacity (over 18 months) | Employer (continued pay) | 100 % of your salary |
| Afterwards (from the 1st of the following month) | CNS (sickness cash benefit) | Equivalent to your previous gross salary, capped at 5x the SSM |
| Overall limit | — | 78 cumulative weeks of benefit within a 104-week reference period |
When the 78-week limit approaches, the file is automatically reviewed for professional reclassification (internal or external redeployment) or an invalidity pension. Do not wait passively: the CNS and the medical board (Contrôle médical de la sécurité sociale) will send summons, and your rights depend on attending these medical appointments.
Sick leave also protects cross-border workers: Luxembourg rules on notification and continued pay apply to everyone insured with the CNS, regardless of country of residence.
