Cantonal compliance guide
Hiring and paying household help in Bern
The federal framework for household employment applies everywhere in Switzerland, but Bern sets some of its own rules: most importantly around minimum wage, the family-allowance rate and how withholding tax is handled. Here is what changes in Bern.
Minimum wage in Bern
Bern has no cantonal statutory minimum wage for household work. The federal standard contract for domestic work (NAV Hauswirtschaft) sets the floor when the person works on average at least 5 hours a week for the same household: CHF 20.35 an hour without a qualification, CHF 22.30 with at least four years of household experience or a two year certificate (EBA) and CHF 24.55 with a three year certificate (EFZ).
The rules in Bern
What the law in Bern asks of a household that employs someone at home.
Checked on 28 September 2026
What differs in Bern
Notice after probation
1 month in year 1, to the end of a month, 2 months in years 2 to 3, to the end of a month and 3 months from year 4, to the end of a month
Federal law: 1 month in year 1, to the end of a month, 2 months in years 2 to 9, to the end of a month and 3 months from year 10, to the end of a month
Paid holiday
At least 4 weeks of paid holidays a year, and 5 weeks in these cases: until the end of the calendar year in which your Helper turns 20 and from the start of the calendar year in which your Helper turns 50
Federal law: At least 4 weeks of paid holidays a year, and 5 weeks in these cases: under age 20
Notice in writing
Notice must be in writing and signed (BSG 222.153.22 Art. 9 Abs. 1).
Federal law: no signed letter needed
How many weeks of paid holidays does a Helper get in the canton of Bern, and what applies on public holidays?
At least 4 weeks of paid holidays a year, and 5 weeks in these cases:
- until the end of the calendar year in which your Helper turns 20
- from the start of the calendar year in which your Helper turns 50
On an hourly wage, holiday pay is 8.33% of the wage for 4 weeks of holidays (4 divided by 48 weeks worked) and 10.64% for 5 weeks (5 divided by 47).
Sunday and holiday work in Bern
In the canton of Bern, work on a public holiday carries no supplement in money.
Source: NAV für den Hausdienst, BSG 222.153.22, Art. 21, Art. 20, read on 9 October 2026.
On irregular hours, the holiday pay is added to every hour worked.
On fixed days or a monthly salary, the wage continues during the holiday and nothing is added.
Notice and probation
How long is the notice period for a Helper in Bern?
After probation, the notice period is 1 month in year 1, 2 months in years 2 to 3 and 3 months from year 4, each running to the end of a month.
- Year 1
- 1 month, to the end of a month
- Years 2 to 3
- 2 months, to the end of a month
- From year 4
- 3 months, to the end of a month
- Probation
- 1 month
- Notice in probation
- 7 days, ending on any day
For a contract of 4 months or less, probation is 2 weeks (Art. 8 Abs. 2).
Source: Art. 3, 8, 9, 10. Checked on 28 September 2026.
Written form
Does notice have to be in writing in Bern?
Notice must be in writing and signed (BSG 222.153.22 Art. 9 Abs. 1).
To end a fixed term contract early by agreement, put the agreement in writing (BSG 222.153.22 Art. 9 Abs. 2).
The Bern standard contract requires the household to take out daily sickness benefit insurance (Art. 35 and 36). This applies to an open-ended contract, or a job agreed for more than 3 months.
Source: BSG 222.153.22 Art. 9 Abs. 1. Checked on 28 September 2026.
Public holidays
Which public holidays do I pay in Bern?
The paid public holiday in Bern in 2026 is Saturday, 1 August.
On irregular hours, 0.39% is added to every hour worked to pay for public holidays.
On fixed days or a monthly salary, nothing is added. The agreed month is paid in full, holidays and public holidays included.
Public holiday share calculated on 7 October 2026.
Sources: Art. 20 and seco.admin.ch. Checked on 9 October 2026.
Registration and source tax
Where do I register a Helper in Bern?
Your household is the employer, so you register with Ausgleichskasse des Kantons Bern.
In the simplified procedure, register within 30 days of your Helper's first working day, unless your household is already registered.
Your household owes contributions from the first franc of wage. There is no lower limit.
The canton of Bern sets the exact registration steps and any deadline.
Taxed at source are usually foreign nationals living in Switzerland without a settlement (C) permit, and certain people living abroad. Swiss citizens and holders of a C permit are taxed in the ordinary procedure.
If your Helper is taxed at source, you deduct the tax from your Helper's pay and settle it with the source tax office.
There is no single national rate.
In the simplified procedure, the income tax is instead a flat 5% of the gross wage, paid once a year through the compensation office.
- Yearly declaration
- In the simplified procedure, declare the year's wages by 30 January of the following year.
- Helper taxed at source
- Outside the simplified procedure, report a Helper taxed at source to Steuerverwaltung des Kantons Bern, Quellensteuer, 3001 Bern within 8 days of the start or of a change.
- Compensation office (social insurance)
- Ausgleichskasse des Kantons BernThe compensation office charges an administration fee of 5% of the contributions.Across the cantons, offices charge from 1.4% to 5% of the contributions.
- Source tax office
- Steuerverwaltung des Kantons Bern, Quellensteuer, 3001 Bern
For a Helper who lives across the border, these forms apply in Bern:
- Valais, Wegleitung zur Erhebung der Quellensteuer 2025, Grenzgänger, filed by your Helper
The tax follows the Bern tariff for 2026, as the Federal Tax Administration publishes it.
Your household must insure your Helper against occupational accidents from the first day of work, with an authorised insurer. Non-occupational cover is added once your Helper works 8 hours a week or more for your household.
Sources: akbern.ch, ahv-iv.ch, estv.admin.ch, Art. 5 QStV, KS 45 9.2, estv2.admin.ch, sv.fin.be.ch, akbern.ch, akbern.ch, sv.fin.be.ch and ahv-iv.ch. Checked on 29 September 2026.
Work it out for Bern
- Holiday pay calculator
Your Helper's holiday in weeks and in francs.
- Notice period calculator
The last day of employment and the article of law behind it.
Your answers stay in this browser.
Social contributions and family allowances in Bern
First-pillar contributions (AHV/IV/EO at 5.3% each) and unemployment insurance (ALV at 1.1% each, up to CHF 148’200 a year) are federal and identical everywhere. The cantonal family-equalisation fund rate is about 1.5% of wages, but the exact rate depends on which family-allowance fund you are affiliated with, so treat it as approximate.
Family allowances (FAK): what your household pays and who claims
Find local help
Bern household-employer questions
Is there a minimum wage for cleaners and carers in Bern?
The household always pays at least the floor that applies in Bern. Everywhere except Geneva, the federal NAV Hauswirtschaft minimum applies when the person works on average at least 5 hours a week for the same household; Geneva has its own binding contract for domestic work. Where the canton or a city also sets a statutory minimum wage, the highest of them applies. The minimum wage box above shows the figures for Bern.
Official sources
Service guides
Let Helpore take on the administration
Your household stays the employer. With Helpore Admin, under your signed power of attorney, Helpore registers the employment and runs payroll, insurance and documents in your name. With Admin Light, Helpore prepares the calculation and the documents, and you file and pay yourself.