You have reached the required age of 60 years old (or will you celebrate them soon)? And you have validated at least 150 quarters all pension plans combined (including quarters of unemployment, increased duration of insurance for maternity, or even those that you have purchased)? Well done, you only have one condition left to meet to take gradual retirement: be part-time. Since September 1, 2025employees in the private sector and public sector agents are concerned, whether they are civil servants or contract workers. This system allows you to work less and liquidate part of your retirement to compensate. A simulation of your rights is possible on the site info-retraite.fr.
In the private sector, you have to work between 40 and 80% of full timecompared to 50 to 90% in the civil service. Employees on flat-rate days, not required to work a certain amount of time, or the self-employed must reduce their professional income (by 20 to 60%). If you also check this box, your employer’s consent or your administration is not required. In fact, you have already fulfilled all the terms. Your human resources department will have a simple formality to complete: complete a employer certificatementioning your working hours (in hours or days), and the full-time working hours applicable in your company.
Your arguments for negotiating
Things become complicated when the requirement for reduced working hours is not met. Your boss will have to accept that you work less. The challenge for you is to convince him that your motivation remains intact and that, better rested, you will still be more productive. This can also be an opportunity to start anticipating what comes next, by passing on your know-how to a new recruit.
Still your employer can refuse. But if necessary, it must be justified, explaining why the activity does not allow it, and why you are difficult to replace (article L.3123-4-1 of the Labor Code, amended by law no. 2025-989 of October 24, 2025).
How to proceed?
In practice, start by taking the temperature informally. Do you get a verbal agreement? You can send your request for part-time with confidence. In your registered mail with acknowledgment of receipt, mention a desired start date for this new schedule in seven months, in order to take into account the processing times for your progressive retirement file. Knowing that your boss has two months to answer you (his silence constitutes acceptance). Your new part-time or reduced working conditions must be defined in consultation with your company. Finally, you will sign a amendment to your employment contract.
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