Cantonal compliance guide
Hiring and paying household help in Vaud
The federal framework for household employment applies everywhere in Switzerland, but Vaud 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 Vaud.
Minimum wage in Vaud
Vaud 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 Vaud
What the law in Vaud asks of a household that employs someone at home.
Checked on 23 September 2026
What differs in Vaud
Probation
2 months
Federal law: 1 month
Notice after probation
1 month in every year of service, 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: under age 20, after 20 years with the same household and from age 50, after 5 years with the same household
Federal law: At least 4 weeks of paid holidays a year, and 5 weeks in these cases: under age 20
How many weeks of paid holidays does a Helper get in the canton of Vaud, and what applies on public holidays?
At least 4 weeks of paid holidays a year, and 5 weeks in these cases:
- under age 20
- after 20 years with the same household
- from age 50, after 5 years with the same household
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 Vaud
In the canton of Vaud, work on a public holiday carries no supplement in money.
Source: ACTT-mpr, RSV 222.105.1, art. 18, art. 15 al. 2, 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 Vaud?
After probation, the notice period is 1 month in every year of service, each running to the end of a month.
- Every year of service
- 1 month, to the end of a month
- Probation
- 2 months
- Notice in probation
- 7 days, ending on any day
If your Helper lives in a home you provide, notice after probation is 2 months, to the end of a month (Art. 6 al. 1 let. b).
The standard contract in Vaud covers a Helper who lives in your household. For any other Helper, federal law sets the notice.
Source: Art. 2, 5, 6. Checked on 28 September 2026.
Written form
Does notice have to be in writing in Vaud?
Vaud does not require a signed letter. Notice counts from the day the other side receives it.
The Vaud standard contract does not require the household to take out daily sickness benefit insurance. You and your Helper may agree such insurance in the contract.
Sources: Art. 2, 5, 6 and RSV 222.105.1. Checked on 23 September 2026.
Public holidays
Which public holidays do I pay in Vaud?
The paid public holiday in Vaud 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. 15 al. 2 and seco.admin.ch. Checked on 9 October 2026.
Registration and source tax
Where do I register a Helper in Vaud?
Your household is the employer, so you register with Caisse cantonale vaudoise de compensation.
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 Vaud 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.
The Vaud tariff applies.
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 Administration cantonale des impôts, Office d'impôt des districts de Lausanne et Ouest lausannois, 1014 Lausanne within 8 days of the start or of a change.
- Compensation office (social insurance)
- Caisse cantonale vaudoise de compensationThe compensation office charges an administration fee of at most 5% of the contributions.Across the cantons, offices charge from 1.4% to 5% of the contributions.
- Source tax office
- Administration cantonale des impôts, Office d'impôt des districts de Lausanne et Ouest lausannois, 1014 Lausanne
For a Helper who lives across the border, these forms apply in Vaud:
- Valais, Wegleitung zur Erhebung der Quellensteuer 2025, Grenzgänger, filed by your Helper
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: caisseavsvaud.ch, ahv-iv.ch, estv.admin.ch, Art. 5 QStV, KS 45 9.2, vd.ch, fedlex.admin.ch, caisseavsvaud.ch, vd.ch and ahv-iv.ch. Checked on 29 September 2026.
Work it out for Vaud
- 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 Vaud
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 2.37% 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
Vaud household-employer questions
Is there a minimum wage for cleaners and carers in Vaud?
The household always pays at least the floor that applies in Vaud. 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 Vaud.
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.