Employee at the employer's home: what to do in case of death of the employer?

Verified 02 August 2023 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

When an individual employer who employs an employee at home dies, the employee's employment contract is automatically terminated. Where the contract is entered into by a couple, it may continue with the survivor of the couple. How is the employee informed of the death of his employer? Does the employee receive compensation as a result of the death of the employer? What documents are given to the employee at the end of the employment contract? We're doing an update on the regulations.

The situation varies depending on whether the employee is on a permanent contract (CDI) or a fixed-term contract (CDD).

DTA

The termination of the contract differs depending on whether the employee is employed by a couple of private employers or not.

Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement

General case

Yes, the death of the individual employer shall end automatically the employee's employment contract.

The breakup of the employment contract on the date of death the individual employer.

The employment contract provides that the employee is hired by a couple of individual employers

The regulations differ depending on whether the employee wishes to continue the employment contract with the survivor of the couple.

Agreement of the employee to continue the employment contract with the survivor of the couple

Where the employment contract provides that the employee is hired by a couple of private employers, the surviving spouse may continue the employment relationship with the employee if he's okay with it.

An amendment to the employment contract may confirm this agreement.

The employment contract is not broken. The employee shall retain his seniority.

The survivor of the couple shall ensure that they are registered as an individual employer with theUrssaf: titleContent. If necessary, it shall make the necessary corrections to that body.

The employee does not agree to continue the employment contract with the survivor of the couple

Yes, the death of the individual employer shall end automatically the employee's employment contract.

The termination of the contract of employment occurs on the date of death the individual employer.

Yes, one entitled or, in the absence of a person entitled, a third party (notary, for example), informs the employee of the date of death of the individual employer as soon as possible, in writing.

NoHowever, the notice cannot be given because of the death of the employer.

However, the employee is entitled to a compensatory period of notice.

The duration of the notice depends on the employee's seniority with the employer.

It is calculated on the day of the death of the individual employer.

Tableau - Period of notice in the event of dismissal

Employee's length of continuous service with the same employer

Notice in the event of dismissal

Less than 6 months

1 week

From 6 months to less than 2 years

1 month

2 years and older

2 months

Yes, the employee shall receive the following allowances:

The employee also receives the last salary due on the day of death.

Please note

Where recourse is had to the Cesu: titleContentHowever, if the leave is paid monthly, it does not give rise to compensatory allowance.

One entitled or, in the absence of a person entitled to a third party, must provide the employee with the following documents:

  • Work Certificate
  • Attestation France Travail (formerly Pôle emploi)
  • Received for the balance of any account that details the amounts paid upon termination of the employment contract. If the employee has signed the receipt for balance of any account, he has 6 months after the date of signature to contest it.

These documents shall be submitted within 30 months calendar days from the date of death.

Termination procedures can be carried out on the Internet. It varies according to the activity of the employee.

General case

A service allows to carry out online the steps related to the termination of the employment contract:

Procedures for termination of employment at home

Childcare

A service allows to carry out online the steps related to the termination of the employment contract:

Procedures for termination of child care contracts

CSD

The termination of the contract differs depending on whether the employee is employed by a couple of private employers or not.

Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement

General case

Yes, the death of the individual employer shall end automatically the employee's employment contract.

The CSD: titleContent is broken by anticipation on the date of death the individual employer.

The death of the individual employer is not a case of force majeure.

The employment contract provides that the employee is hired by a couple of individual employers

The regulations differ depending on whether the employee wishes to continue the employment contract with the survivor of the couple.

Agreement of the employee to continue the employment contract with the survivor of the couple

Where the employment contract provides that the employee is hired by a couple of private employers, the surviving spouse may continue the employment relationship with the employee if he's okay with it.

An amendment to the employment contract may confirm this agreement.

The employment contract is not broken. The employee shall retain his seniority.

The survivor of the couple shall ensure that they are registered as an individual employer with theUrssaf: titleContent. If necessary, it shall make the necessary corrections to that body.

The employee does not agree to continue the employment contract with the survivor of the couple

Yes, the death of the individual employer shall end automatically the employee's employment contract.

The CSD: titleContent is broken by anticipation on the date of death the individual employer.

The death of the individual employer is not a force majeure.

Yes, one entitled or, in the absence of a person entitled, a third party (notary, for example), informs the employee of the date of death of the individual employer as soon as possible, in writing.

The breakdown of the CDD in anticipation entitles the employee to damages.

The amount of damages shall be at least equal to the following 2 amounts:

  • Wages that the employee would have received until the end of his contract
  • And termination indemnity calculated until termination of contract originally planned

The employee receives a Compensatory leave with pay.

He also receives the last salary due on the day of death.

Please note

Where recourse is had to the Cesu: titleContentHowever, if the leave is paid monthly, it does not give rise to compensatory allowance.

One entitled or, in the absence of a person entitled to a third party, must provide the employee with the following documents:

  • Work Certificate
  • Attestation France Travail (formerly Pôle emploi)
  • Received for the balance of any account that details the amounts paid upon termination of the employment contract. If the employee has signed the receipt for balance of any account, he has 6 months after the date of signature to contest it.

These documents shall be submitted within 30 months calendar days from the date of death.

Termination procedures can be carried out on the Internet. It varies according to the activity of the employee.

General case

A service allows to carry out online the steps related to the termination of the employment contract:

Procedures for termination of employment at home

Childcare

A service allows to carry out online the steps related to the termination of the employment contract:

Procedures for termination of child care contracts

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