Swiss household employment
Ferienentschädigung: holiday pay
Also written: Ferienentschädigung · Indemnité de vacances · Indennità di vacanza
How much holiday does household staff get, and how is it paid?
Employees in Switzerland are entitled to at least 4 weeks of paid holiday a year, and to 5 weeks until their 20th birthday. The rule is time off with the wage paid on, and during the employment holiday may not be replaced by money. Only with an hourly wage and irregular hours do the courts accept a supplement paid on top of each hour instead, and only on strict conditions.
What it means if you employ someone at home
Grant the holiday and keep paying the wage for it. With an hourly wage and irregular hours you may instead add a holiday supplement to each hour (8.33 % with 4 weeks, 10.64 % with 5 weeks), provided it is shown, as a percentage or in francs, both in the contract and on every payslip; otherwise you risk paying the holiday twice. The supplement replaces the wage for the holiday, not the holiday itself: the person still takes the time off. Holiday pay is wage, so contributions are due on it.
You are the employer. With Helpore Admin, Helpore prepares a contract if you want one and, under your signed power of attorney, files the declarations and produces the payslip in your name; with Admin Light, Helpore prepares the maths and the documents and you file and pay. Both are optional. You stay the employer in every case and can also do all of this yourself.
The numbers
The supplement that matches the statutory entitlement:
- Four weeks
- 8.33 %
- Five weeks, until the 20th birthday
- 10.64 %
Common questions
Can I just pay a higher hourly rate and call it holiday included?
No. The holiday portion has to be shown separately in the contract and on every payslip, otherwise it does not count as holiday pay and you risk paying the holiday twice.
Which percentage applies?
8.33 % for 4 weeks of holiday, 10.64 % for 5 weeks, the minimum until the 20th birthday.