Study
Notice for household work in 26 cantons, 2026
When the employment contract says nothing else, a Helper with 10 years in the same home is owed 1, 2 or 3 months of notice, depending on her canton.
This study compares what each canton's standard contract for household work sets: the probation, the notice during probation, the notice period by year of service and whether notice must be in writing. A written contract can agree other terms, within the limits of the Code of Obligations (CO).
“Ten years in the same home do not count the same everywhere. In Zurich the notice stays at one month, while in most cantons it reaches three. A household should know which rule it works under before it needs it.”
Key findings
- After 10 years of service, the notice period is 3 months in 19 cantons, 2 months in Obwalden, Appenzell Innerrhoden, Thurgau and Ticino and 1 month in Zurich. In St. Gallen it is 2 months for a Helper who works full time and 1 month at any time, not to the end of a month, for one who works part time. In Vaud it is 1 month, but 2 months for a Helper who lives in an apartment the employer provides.
- In year 1, after probation, Uri and Appenzell Ausserrhoden ask for 2 months. 22 cantons ask for 1 month. In St. Gallen it is 1 month for a Helper who works full time and 1 month at any time for one who works part time. In Vaud it is 1 month, but 2 months for a Helper who lives in an apartment the employer provides.
- 9 cantons depart from the periods the CO sets after probation: Zurich, Bern, Uri, Obwalden, Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Appenzell Innerrhoden, Thurgau, Ticino and Jura. 15 follow them. In St. Gallen and Vaud, the periods depend on the Helper's situation (see the notes below the tables).
- Probation, when nothing is agreed, is 2 weeks in Obwalden and Grisons, 4 weeks in Lucerne, Uri, Nidwalden and Zug, 1 month in 17 cantons and 2 months in Vaud. In Bern, unless agreed otherwise in writing, it is 1 month, or 2 weeks where the employment is agreed for no more than 4 months. In Fribourg it is 2 months where the contract provides for a probation; whether that also applies when the contract says nothing is not settled.
- Notice during probation is 3 days in 7 cantons: Zurich, Uri, Obwalden, Glarus, Appenzell Ausserrhoden, St. Gallen and Grisons. It is 5 days in Appenzell Innerrhoden and 7 days in 17 cantons. In Neuchâtel it is 3 days, to the end of a week, where the Helper lives in the household.
- Notice must be in writing under the standard contracts of Bern, Glarus, Solothurn, Basel-Stadt, Basel-Landschaft, Aargau and Geneva, and in Neuchâtel for a Helper who lives in.
- To end an employment on 31 December 2026, a Helper in her 2nd year must receive the notice by Saturday 31 October 2026 in 21 cantons. For a Helper with 10 years of service, a 2026 end is no longer possible in 18 cantons. Lucerne, St. Gallen and Vaud are listed apart below the deadline table, because there the date depends on the Helper's situation or on a rule whose meaning is not settled.
Sources: the standard contract for household work of each canton, consulted on 21 October 2026; Code of Obligations, Art. 335 to 336c, consolidated version of 1 October 2026; State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), FAQ on notice, consulted on 21 October 2026.
The federal ladder
Where a canton has no rule of its own, the CO applies (Art. 335b and 335c). Probation is the first month, with 7 days of notice. After probation, notice is 1 month in the 1st year of service, 2 months from the 2nd to the 9th year and 3 months from the 10th. It ends at the end of a month. The period is the same for the household and for the Helper (Art. 335a).
Most cantons copy this ladder into their standard contract for household work. 9 do not, and they depart in both directions. Bern reaches 3 months from the 4th year, and Appenzell Ausserrhoden and Jura from the 6th, years earlier than the CO. Zurich stays at 1 month in every year, and 4 cantons stop at 2 months. In St. Gallen and Vaud, the ladder depends on the Helper's situation.
Probation and notice in 26 cantons
Year means the Helper's year of service. The columns show the years of service at which a canton's ladder can change, and year 5, for which the Ticino period is not confirmed. In the years between two columns, the period of the column to its left applies. Notice after probation is in months and ends at the end of a month, unless the row says otherwise.
Probation and written form
| Canton | Probation when nothing is agreed | Notice during probation | Notice in writing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zurich | 1 month | 3 days | no |
| Bern | 1 month, or 2 weeks where the employment is agreed for no more than 4 months; in each case unless agreed otherwise in writing (Art. 8 para. 1 and 2) | 7 days | yes |
| Lucerne | 4 weeks | 7 days | no |
| Uri | 4 weeks | 3 days | no |
| Schwyz | 1 month | 7 days | no |
| Obwalden | 2 weeks | 3 working days | no |
| Nidwalden | 4 weeks | 7 days | no |
| Glarus | 1 month | 3 days | yes |
| Zug | 4 weeks | 7 days | no |
| Fribourg | 2 months where the contract provides for a probation; not settled where it says nothing | 7 days, to the end of a working week | no |
| Solothurn | 1 month | 7 days | yes |
| Basel-Stadt | 1 month | 7 days | yes |
| Basel-Landschaft | 1 month | 7 days | yes |
| Schaffhausen | 1 month | 7 days | no |
| Appenzell Ausserrhoden | 1 month | 3 days, to the end of a working week | no |
| Appenzell Innerrhoden | 1 month | 5 days | no |
| St. Gallen | 1 month | 3 days | no |
| Grisons | 2 weeks | 3 days | no |
| Aargau | 1 month | 7 days | yes |
| Thurgau | 1 month | 7 days | no |
| Ticino | 1 month | 7 days | no |
| Vaud | 2 months | 7 days | no |
| Valais | 1 month | 7 days | no |
| Neuchâtel | 1 month | 3 days, to the end of a week, where the Helper lives in the household (Art. 17 para. 2); otherwise 7 days (CO) | live in only |
| Geneva | 1 month | 7 days | yes |
| Jura | 1 month | 7 days | no |
| Code of Obligations | 1 month | 7 days | no |
Notice after probation, in months
| Canton | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 4 | Year 5 | Year 6 | Year 10 | Articles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zurich | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Art. 2, 17 para. 2, 18 para. 1 |
| Bern | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | Art. 3, 8, 9, 10 |
| Lucerne | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | § 2, § 27 |
| Uri | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | Art. 1, 2, 4, 5 |
| Schwyz | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | § 3, § 19 para. 2 (Art. 335 ff. CO) |
| Obwalden | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | Art. 2, 3 para. 2, 4 para. 1 |
| Nidwalden | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | § 4, § 27, § 28 para. 2 (Art. 335 ff. CO) |
| Glarus | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | Art. 3, 18, 19 |
| Zug | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | § 2, § 3, § 4 para. 1 (Art. 335 ff. CO) |
| Fribourg | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | Art. 2, 18, 19 |
| Solothurn | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | § 23, § 24, § 38 |
| Basel-Stadt | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | § 12, § 13, § 50 |
| Basel-Landschaft | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | § 1, § 24, § 25 |
| Schaffhausen | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | § 37, § 59 |
| Appenzell Ausserrhoden | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | Art. 3, 34, 35 |
| Appenzell Innerrhoden | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | Art. 2, 24, 25 |
| St. Gallen, Helper who works full time | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | Art. 1 para. 1, 2 para. 2, 3, 4, 5 para. 1 |
| St. Gallen, Helper who works part time | 1, at any time | 1, at any time | 1, at any time | 1, at any time | 1, at any time | 1, at any time | Art. 2 para. 2, 5 para. 2 |
| Grisons | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | Art. 2, 20, 21 |
| Aargau | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | § 2, § 23 (§ 41 fixed term only) |
| Thurgau | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | § 2, § 19, § 20 |
| Ticino | 1 | 1 | 1 | not confirmed, see note | 2 | 2 | Art. 1, 8, 9 |
| Vaud, any other Helper | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Art. 2, 5, 6 |
| Vaud, Helper in an apartment the employer provides | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | Art. 6 para. 1 let. b |
| Valais | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | Art. 2, 5, 6 |
| Neuchâtel | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | Art. 1, 2, 17, 18 |
| Geneva | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | Art. 2, 22, 23 |
| Jura | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | Art. 3, 7, 8 |
| Code of Obligations | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | Art. 335b, 335c |
Source: each canton's standard contract, as above, with the source address of each canton in the data download. CO, as above.
Some rows need a note:
- Fribourg: the standard contract sets 2 months of probation where a probation is provided for. Whether that also applies when the contract says nothing about probation is not settled: it is either 2 months or the first month under the CO. The cantonal labour office answers it.
- Ticino: the standard contract sets 1 month while the employment has lasted less than five years and 2 months once it has lasted more than five (Art. 9). Which of the two applies to notice received in year 5 is not confirmed, and we found no official reading from the canton, so the tables leave year 5 open for Ticino.
- St. Gallen: a Helper who has agreed to work regular hours, half days or days for the household works part time under the standard contract. She gets 1 month of notice at any time, not to the end of a month, and 3 days during probation. Where full time begins is not set in hours. The cantonal labour office answers it.
- Vaud: a Helper who lives in an apartment the employer provides gets 2 months of notice to the end of a month in every year after probation.
- Neuchâtel: the standard contract applies where the Helper lives in the household (Art. 1). During probation, either party can give notice 3 days ahead, to the end of a week (Art. 17 para. 2).
- Lucerne: the notice must reach the other party by the last working day of the month before the notice period starts. Whether that means a general working day or the Helper's own last working day is not settled. The cantonal labour office answers it.
The guide shows each canton's periods under notice period and probation.
Written notice
The CO requires no form for notice. 7 standard contracts do: Bern, Glarus, Solothurn, Basel-Stadt, Basel-Landschaft, Aargau and Geneva. Neuchâtel requires it for a Helper who lives in the household's home. Bern requires it as a rule. In Geneva, a notice that is not in writing still counts if the party who gave it proves that the other party actually read it.
If the other party asks, the party who gives notice must give the reasons in writing (Art. 335 para. 2). A dated letter, with a copy the Helper signs on receipt, shows when notice was given.
The year end deadline
Notice counts from the day the Helper receives it, not the day it is written or posted (SECO, as above). After probation it then runs to the end of a month. For an employment to end on 31 December 2026:
- With 1 month of notice, the Helper must receive it by 30 November 2026.
- With 2 months, she must receive it by Saturday 31 October 2026.
- With 3 months, the last day was 30 September 2026, so an end in 2026 is no longer possible. Notice received by 31 October 2026 ends the employment on 31 January 2027 at the earliest.
A registered letter that waits at the post office may count only when its 7 day collection period ends. For the 31 October deadline, the post must try to deliver it at least 7 days before. A letter handed over against a signed receipt counts on the day of handover (SECO, as above).
What this means by year of service, from the tables:
| Helper's year of service | Notice received by 31 October 2026 | Notice received by 30 November 2026 | No longer possible in 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1, after probation | Uri and Appenzell Ausserrhoden | 21 cantons | none |
| Year 2 | 21 cantons | Zurich and Ticino | none |
| Year 4 | 20 cantons | Zurich and Ticino | Bern |
| Year 5 | 20 cantons | Zurich | Bern |
| Year 6 | 19 cantons | Zurich | Bern, Appenzell Ausserrhoden and Jura |
| Year 10 | Obwalden, Appenzell Innerrhoden, Thurgau and Ticino | Zurich | 18 cantons |
4 cantons differ from this table:
- In Vaud, a Helper who lives in an apartment the employer provides must receive the notice by 31 October 2026 in every year of service. Any other Helper must receive it by 30 November 2026.
- In St. Gallen, a Helper who works full time must receive it by 30 November 2026 in year 1 and by 31 October 2026 from year 2. A Helper who works part time gets 1 month at any time, so the month end dates above do not apply to her.
- In Lucerne, the notice must arrive by the last working day of the month before the notice period starts, which for 2 months is the last working day of October. The table leaves Lucerne out because the meaning of that rule is not settled (see the note above).
- In Ticino, the period in year 5 is not confirmed (see the note on Ticino above), so the table leaves Ticino out in that year.
Sources: the canton rows above; SECO, as above.
A household that needs the employment to end in 2026 should look up its canton now. The post on giving notice covers the letter, the protection during illness and the last month.
Method
We compared the standard contract for household work of each of the 26 cantons with the CO. Helpore's rules hold one row per canton, built from the canton's official text and first read on 28 September 2026, with the articles and the source address. On 21 October 2026 we saved a copy of all 26 texts and checked every row, the written form included, against its copy. The rows matched, except in 4 places now shown in the tables and notes: the receipt rule in Lucerne, part time work in St. Gallen, the employer's apartment in Vaud and notice during probation in Neuchâtel.
The federal figures come from the CO, as above. The deadlines follow SECO's FAQ on notice, whose own worked example counts back from the last day of a month in the same way. "Notice in writing" means the canton's standard contract requires it. In Neuchâtel, the standard contract applies where there is a "communauté domestique" (RSN 225.42 art. 1 al. 1), that is where the Helper lives in the household, so its notice during probation (Art. 17 para. 2) and its written notice (Art. 18) apply to her. For a Helper who does not live in, the CO applies, with 7 days of notice during probation.
Limitations
- We did not compare who each canton's standard contract covers. The cantonal labour office answers whether your Helper's work falls under it.
- Some cantons may have special rules beyond those the tables and notes show. The cantonal labour office answers whether one applies.
- Protection against notice during illness, accident and pregnancy follows the CO (Art. 336c) in every canton and is not compared here.
Data
The canton table, with the source address of each canton, the method and the data definitions can be downloaded as files with this study.
Data and files
Related: Giving notice to your Helper · Employment contract for a cleaner · Changing employer · Notice period · Probation