Nantes care group sets off-hours no-contact rule, keeps on-call cover

Adapeila, the disability-support association headquartered at NantesLegifrance, has signed a company accord on the droit à la déconnexion with four representative unions: CFDT, CGT, SUD and CGC. Signed at Nantes on 26 June 2026Legifrance, it applies from 1 July 2026LegifranceLegifrance for an indefinite periodLegifrance to every employeeLegifrance, with an annexed guide de bonnes pratiques drawn up by volunteer staff groups after the 2024 baromètre social.

The accord defines disconnection as the right not to connect to professional digital tools and not to be contacted, including on personal devices for professional reasons, during meal breaks, daily and weekly rest, paid and exceptional leave, public holidays and any authorised absence such as sick or maternity leave. During working hours, employees may also set périodes blanches — offline blocks protecting concentration. No employee may be sanctioned or penalised in career or appraisal solely for not answering professional emails, messages or calls outside the protected periods.

The protected periods differ by working-time regime. Hourly staff may not be contacted outside their habitual working timeLegifrance, meaning scheduled hours plus any additional or overtime hours. Staff whose time is counted in jours — the forfait-jours regime — may not be contacted between 19h and 8hLegifrance; the accord stresses the 8h-19h window is only a contactability range, never working time. The lunch break is protected for all. An automatic Outlook notice between 19h and 8h, on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, tells senders the recipient need not reply outside working hours.

Two exceptions apply. Staff on astreinte must remain reachable throughout the on-call period — disconnection does not apply then. Any employee may also be contacted at any time in an exceptional, unforeseen situation that on-site staff including on-call cover cannot handleLegifrance: danger to the health or safety of supported persons, patients or staff, urgent care that cannot wait, or major disruption unresolvable by immediately available means. Such a call is expressly not a breach of the right to disconnect. Urgent contact should go by telephone — the guide suggests first texting that an urgent call to the personal phone follows — and must stay strictly exceptional and proportionate.

Patient-related exchanges must always use Adapeila's official tools and channels; non-professional instant messaging or social networks may never be used outside working time for matters concerning supported persons or patients. The accord keeps access to IT tools open rather than blocking servers, placing responsibility on each person to respect rest periods and colleagues' disconnection. Any employee who feels the right is breached may alert their manager, a staff representative, HR or occupational health. Training and awareness actions for managers and staff run regularly, and managers must not schedule sensitive interviews just before a weekend or leave.

Revision follows the electoral cycle: reserved first to signatories or adherents, then open to any representative union, with negotiations within three months of a revision request. Denunciation needs three months' notice from filing with the Dreets des Pays de la Loire. The accord is filed with the Dreets and the Nantes employment-tribunal registry and announced via the employee portal.

Legal basis: accord d'entreprise sur le droit à la déconnexion, Adapeila du 26 juin 2026, applicable 1er juillet 2026; article L4121-1 et négociation annuelle L2242-17 et suivants du code du travail.