Paid Sick Leave in Switzerland: A Complete Guide

Paid sick leave helps protect your income when you are unable to work because of illness. Here, moneyland.ch answers the most important questions about paid sick leave in Switzerland.

Who can get paid sick leave?

You become entitled to paid sick leave once you have been employed by a Swiss employer for at least three months.

Do I have to prove that I am ill?

Yes. Employers can request medical reports. Your employment contract may specify a maximum amount of sick leave after which you are required to submit a medical report declaring you unfit to work. While there is no legal maximum, employers typically expect such a report after three days of sick leave.

How much paid sick leave can I get without paid sick leave insurance?

If your employer does not have paid sick leave insurance, then they have to continue paying out your full salary for a certain amount of time while you are on sick leave. Your paid sick leave entitlements depend on how long you have worked for your employer.

Three different models are used to determine the amount of paid sick leave which you are generally entitled to: the Basel model, the Bern model, and the Zurich model. These models are used as a guideline for minimum paid sick leave entitlements when your employer does not have paid sick leave insurance, and no other model is specified in your employment contract.

Standard entitlements without paid sick leave insurance:

If your illness still allows you to work part-time, your paid sick leave entitlements will generally be longer. For example, if you are still able to work on a 50 percent basis, then your paid sick leave entitlements will be twice as long as the entitlements for full time leave. There are some variations in the way this is implemented between cantons and models, but that is the general rule.

Unless you and your employer agree to a different model in your employment contract, then which model applies to you largely depends on which canton your employer is domiciled in.

Paid sick leave models which are primarily used, by canton:

How much paid sick leave can I get if my employer has paid sick leave insurance?

If your employer has paid sick leave insurance, then the benefit term of the insurance applies instead of the cantonal models. For insurance to apply in place of paid sick leave entitlements, it must pay you a benefit equal to at least four-fifths (80 percent) of your insured income, for up to 720 days.

Note: Some Swiss employers pay a partial salary to make up the difference between the insurance benefits and your full salary.

Do I benefit if my employer has paid sick leave insurance?

Paid sick leave insurance typically pays out benefits for periods of time which are longer than your legal paid sick leave entitlements. This is especially true if you have only worked for your employer for a relatively short amount of time. The longer term can be advantageous in the case of long-term illness.

It is also worth noting that not all employers can afford to pay out salaries over longer periods of time without benefiting from your work. This can lead to difficulties when claiming your paid sick leave entitlements. Employers are also more likely to dispute your entitlements when they have to cover your paid sick leave themselves. If your employer has sick leave insurance, you can generally count on receiving an income if you become too ill to work.

However, paid sick leave insurance also has its drawbacks. For one thing, you may receive an income lower than your actual salary (80 percent, for example). Another drawback is that it negatively impacts your social security and pension fund (more on this below).

Does paid sick leave impact my social security, pension fund, and child benefits?

That depends on whether or not your employer has paid sick leave insurance. 

If your employer does not have insurance, then you will continue receiving your salary during your paid sick leave. You and your employer must continue paying social social security and pension fund contributions on your salary, as you would if you were working. You will also continue to receive child benefits through your employer.

But if your employer has paid sick leave insurance, the insurance benefits will replace your salary during your sick leave. The insurance benefits are not a salary, and are not subject to social security. Neither you nor your employer will pay social security or pension fund contributions on that money. You will continue to receive child benefits from your employer for three months of illness, in addition to the month in which your sick leave began.

If your employer pays the difference between the insurance benefit and your full salary, then contributions are paid on that difference only. If the partial salary exceeds the threshold for receiving child benefits, you will continue receiving family allowances through your employer.

When you begin receiving paid sick leave insurance benefits, it is worth contacting your social security office and pension fund to find out whether your required contributions will be met, and to inquire about options for avoiding gaps in benefits.

Do I have to pay for my employer’s paid sick leave insurance?

That depends on the individual insurance agreement. Typically, insurance companies require employers to cover at least half of the cost themselves. Employers can decide whether to cover the remainder themselves, or deduct the money from employees’ salaries.

Can my employer fire me if I get sick?

Yes, but your employer can only give notice of letting you go after a waiting period. The length of this waiting period depends on how long you have worked for your employer.

What happens when my paid sick leave runs out?

If you are not likely to recover by the time your paid sick leave entitlement runs out, then you can apply for help from social disability insurance (DI). The DI will then determine your disability level, and take measures to help you find ways to earn income which are compatible with your disability. 

You may also become eligible to receive disability pensions from the DI and your occupational pension fund. If you also have private disability insurance, you may be able to claim a pension in the form of insurance benefits, as per the terms and conditions of your insurance policy.

You can find detailed information in the guide to disability pensions in Switzerland.

More on this topic:
Accident insurance in Switzerland explained
Disability insurance in Switzerland explained
Paid sick leave insurance in Switzerland explained
Employer costs: Things to consider when hiring employees in Switzerland
Financial tips for apprentices in Switzerland