Currency: Swiss Franc (CHF)

Capital: Berne

Official language: French, German and Italian

Payroll Cycle: Monthly

Paid Time Off

In Switzerland, employees are entitled to 20 days of paid holiday a year.

Public Holidays

• New Year's Day
• Ascension Day
• Swiss National Day
• Federal Day of Thanksgiving, Repentance and Prayer
• Christmas Day

Individual Income Tax

The individual income tax depends on many variables, such as marital status, level of income, etc. The average ranges up to 19%

Employer Cost

Approximately, 12% - 20% of employee salary

Employment Contract Details

There are no specific rules governing the language for employment contracts as long as the employee understands the contract language. Bilingual wording is recommended for employees without the relevant language skills. Contracts must be in writing.

Probation Period

The maximum probation period is 3 months.

Minimum Wage Requirements

There are no provisions regarding minimum salary stipulated in law. In some cases, a minimum wage may be set by a collective agreement.

Maximum working hours and overtime

Normal working hours are generally 8 hours per day and 40 hours per week. However, employees can work overtime if a supplement of at least 40% is paid for overtime work.

Bonus and expense payments

Terms and conditions are determined by the parties and must be included in the employment agreement to be enforced.

Parental Leave

• Maternity leave: is granted for 14 weeks, or 16 weeks in the Canton of Geneva, after birth. Employees must take a mandatory period of leave of 8 weeks following the birth. During maternity leave, employees receive an allowance equal to 80% of the average salaries funded by the state. The allowance is capped at CHF 196 per day and paid by the employer who may supplement the income up to 80% or 100% of the employee’s usual salary.
• Paternity leave: There is no statutory paternity leave, although employers customarily allow an additional three to five days paid leave.

Sick Leave

Where there is a daily sickness benefit insurance, this covers 80% of the employee's salary for 720 - 730 days in a 900 day period. At least 50% of the cost of such insurance is borne by the employer. In the absence of a daily sickness benefit insurance the employer must pay the employee full salary. Salary is paid if the employment relationship has lasted at least 3 months and is paid at 100% from the first day of sickness. Sick pay periods are determined according to seniority from three weeks for one year of employment to 17 weeks’ for 11 years of employment. There is no recovery of sick pay from the state.

Terminations must be justified and employees must receive a written notice letter.Employees can appeal to a court if they consider the dismissal unjustified.

Notice Period

Severance pay is due according to the notice period. Notice periods start from 1 month and increase according to seniority up to 6 months for employees with over 10 years’ seniority.

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