The statutory minimum period of leave is four weeks for employees and
apprentices over the age of 20 and five weeks for employees and apprentices up
to the age of 20. This minimum may be increased by contractual agreement.
Collective labour agreements often provide for longer periods of leave,
especially for employees with a specified number of years of service and/or of a
certain age.
The leave allowance may be reduced if an employee is off work for a prolonged
period owing to a long illness, long-term unpaid leave, etc. Leave must in
general be granted for the current working year and include at least two
consecutive weeks. While on leave, employees continue to receive their full pay.
Provided an employment contract is still ongoing, leave cannot be replaced by
pecuniary compensation or other benefits.
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.
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