Working in Switzerland - Leave: Sickness, maternity

Public holidays

Switzerland’s statutory public holidays are: 

• New Year’s Day (1 January), 
• Ascension Day, 
• Swiss National Day (1 August) and 
• Christmas Day (25 December). 

All other public holidays (Easter, Whitsun, Corpus Christi, etc.) are cantonal, so that each canton is free to allow them or not. 

• For an overview of the holidays observed in each Swiss canton: Click here

Sickness and Parental leave

Most employers require a medical certificate for any absence longer than three consecutive days due to sickness. The law requires employers to continue to pay for a limited period employees who are unable to work by reason of illness. In addition, all mothers engaged in gainful activity are entitled to paid maternity leave for 98 days after the birth of their child. They receive 80% of their pay in the form of a daily allowance, subject, however, to a maximum of CHF 172 per day. Cantonal provisions, staff service regulations and collective labour agreements apply if these provide for more favourable benefits.

Other

Lastly, Switzerland has a number of types of leave guaranteed by law or by collective labour agreements. These include youth leave, which comprises five extra days’ leave per year for employees and apprentices under the age of 30 who do voluntary work with young people. Employers must also offer workers all the standard kinds of leave, for instance for marriage, childbirth, the death of a close relative or moving house.

Text last edited on: 04/2008

Source: European Union
© European Communities, 1995-2008
Reproduction is authorised.