Swiss household employment
Kündigungsfrist: notice periods
Also written: Kündigungsfrist · Délai de congé · Termine di disdetta
What notice period applies to my cleaner?
The federal standard contract for household work sets the minimum wage and nothing else. Probation and notice come from your canton's standard contract for household work, unless you agree other terms in writing, and where your canton has no rule the Code of Obligations applies. The table shows the periods for each canton.
What it means if you employ someone at home
The notice period is the same for both sides. If different periods are agreed, the longer one applies to both. Written agreements, standard employment contracts and collective agreements may change the periods, but after probation an individual agreement may not shorten them below the minimum of the Code of Obligations. Cantonal rules matter. The table shows the periods of each canton. Basel-Stadt and Geneva follow the CO periods. The usual wage remains due until the notice period ends. Give notice in writing so receipt can be proved. Written notice is expected in Basel-Stadt and Geneva; in Geneva it is nevertheless valid if the sender proves that the recipient actually learned of it. Written notice is the general rule in Bern.
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The numbers
The rule in each canton, and the Code of Obligations where the canton has no rule:
| Canton | Probation | Notice during probation | Notice after probation | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Where the canton has no rule | 1 month | 7 days, on any day | 1 month in service year 1, to the end of a month; 2 months in service years 2 to 9, to the end of a month; 3 months from service year 10, to the end of a month | Code of Obligations OR Art. 335a, 335b, 335c, 360 (Stand 01.01.2026) |
| Zurich | 1 month | 3 days, on any day | 1 month in every year of service, to the end of a month | Canton standard contract Art. 2, 17 Abs. 2, 18 Abs. 1 |
| Bern1 | 1 month | 7 days, on any day | 1 month in service year 1, to the end of a month; 2 months in service years 2 to 3, to the end of a month; 3 months from service year 4, to the end of a month | Canton standard contract Art. 3, 8, 9, 10 |
| Lucerne | 4 weeks | 7 days, on any day | 1 month in service year 1, to the end of a month; 2 months in service years 2 to 9, to the end of a month; 3 months from service year 10, to the end of a month | Canton standard contract §2, §27 |
| Uri | 4 weeks | 3 days, on any day | 2 months in service years 1 to 9, to the end of a month; 3 months from service year 10, to the end of a month | Canton standard contract Art. 1, 2, 4, 5 |
| Schwyz | 1 month | 7 days, on any day | 1 month in service year 1, to the end of a month; 2 months in service years 2 to 9, to the end of a month; 3 months from service year 10, to the end of a month | Canton standard contract §3, §19 Abs. 2 (Art. 335 ff. OR)Code of Obligations OR Art. 335a, 335b, 335c, 360 (Stand 01.01.2026) |
| Obwalden | 2 weeks | 3 working days from the notice | 1 month in service year 1, to the end of a month; 2 months from service year 2, to the end of a month | Canton standard contract Art. 2, 3 Abs. 2, 4 Abs. 1 |
| Nidwalden | 4 weeks | 7 days, on any day | 1 month in service year 1, to the end of a month; 2 months in service years 2 to 9, to the end of a month; 3 months from service year 10, to the end of a month | Canton standard contract §4, §27, §28 Abs. 2 (Art. 335 ff. OR) |
| Glarus | 1 month | 3 days, on any day | 1 month in service year 1, to the end of a month; 2 months in service years 2 to 9, to the end of a month; 3 months from service year 10, to the end of a month | Canton standard contract Art. 3, 18, 19 |
| Zug | 4 weeks | 7 days, on any day | 1 month in service year 1, to the end of a month; 2 months in service years 2 to 9, to the end of a month; 3 months from service year 10, to the end of a month | Canton standard contract §2, §3, §4 Abs. 1 (Art. 335 ff. OR) |
| Fribourg | 2 months | 7 days, to the end of a working week | 1 month in service year 1, to the end of a month; 2 months in service years 2 to 9, to the end of a month; 3 months from service year 10, to the end of a month | Canton standard contract Art. 2, 18, 19 |
| Solothurn | 1 month | 7 days, on any day | 1 month in service year 1, to the end of a month; 2 months in service years 2 to 9, to the end of a month; 3 months from service year 10, to the end of a month | Canton standard contract §23, §24, §38Code of Obligations OR Art. 335a, 335b, 335c, 360 (Stand 01.01.2026) |
| Basel-Stadt | 1 month | 7 days, on any day | 1 month in service year 1, to the end of a month; 2 months in service years 2 to 9, to the end of a month; 3 months from service year 10, to the end of a month | Canton standard contract §12, §13, §50Code of Obligations OR Art. 335a, 335b, 335c, 360 (Stand 01.01.2026) |
| Basel-Landschaft | 1 month | 7 days, on any day | 1 month in service year 1, to the end of a month; 2 months in service years 2 to 9, to the end of a month; 3 months from service year 10, to the end of a month | Canton standard contract §1, §24, §25Code of Obligations OR Art. 335a, 335b, 335c, 360 (Stand 01.01.2026) |
| Schaffhausen | 1 month | 7 days, on any day | 1 month in service year 1, to the end of a month; 2 months in service years 2 to 9, to the end of a month; 3 months from service year 10, to the end of a month | Canton standard contract §37, §59Code of Obligations OR Art. 335a, 335b, 335c, 360 (Stand 01.01.2026) |
| Appenzell Ausserrhoden | 1 month | 3 days, to the end of a working week | 2 months in service years 1 to 5, to the end of a month; 3 months from service year 6, to the end of a month | Canton standard contract Art. 3, 34, 35 |
| Appenzell Innerrhoden | 1 month | 5 days, on any day | 1 month in service year 1, to the end of a month; 2 months from service year 2, to the end of a month | Canton standard contract Art. 2, 24, 25 |
| St. Gallen | 1 month | 3 days, on any day | 1 month in service year 1, to the end of a month; 2 months from service year 2, to the end of a month | Canton standard contract Art. 2 Abs. 2, 3, 4, 5 |
| Grisons | 2 weeks | 3 days, on any day | 1 month in service year 1, to the end of a month; 2 months in service years 2 to 9, to the end of a month; 3 months from service year 10, to the end of a month | Canton standard contract Art. 2, 20, 21 |
| Aargau | 1 month | 7 days, on any day | 1 month in service year 1, to the end of a month; 2 months in service years 2 to 9, to the end of a month; 3 months from service year 10, to the end of a month | Canton standard contract §2, §23 (§41 fixed term only)Code of Obligations OR Art. 335a, 335b, 335c, 360 (Stand 01.01.2026) |
| Thurgau | 1 month | 7 days, on any day | 1 month in service year 1, to the end of a month; 2 months from service year 2, to the end of a month | Canton standard contract §2, §19, §20 |
| Ticino | 1 month | 7 days, on any day | 1 month in service years 1 to 5, to the end of a month; 2 months from service year 6, to the end of a month | Canton standard contract Art. 1, 8, 9 |
| Vaud2 | 2 months | 7 days, on any day | 1 month in every year of service, to the end of a month | Canton standard contract Art. 2, 5, 6 |
| Valais | 1 month | 7 days, on any day | 1 month in service year 1, to the end of a month; 2 months in service years 2 to 9, to the end of a month; 3 months from service year 10, to the end of a month | Canton standard contract Art. 2, 5, 6Code of Obligations OR Art. 335a, 335b, 335c, 360 (Stand 01.01.2026) |
| Neuchâtel | 1 month | 7 days, on any day | 1 month in service year 1, to the end of a month; 2 months in service years 2 to 9, to the end of a month; 3 months from service year 10, to the end of a month | Canton standard contract Art. 1, 2, 17, 18Code of Obligations OR Art. 335a, 335b, 335c, 360 (Stand 01.01.2026) |
| Geneva | 1 month | 7 days, on any day | 1 month in service year 1, to the end of a month; 2 months in service years 2 to 9, to the end of a month; 3 months from service year 10, to the end of a month | Canton standard contract Art. 2, 22, 23Code of Obligations OR Art. 335a, 335b, 335c, 360 (Stand 01.01.2026) |
| Jura | 1 month | 7 days, on any day | 1 month in service year 1, to the end of a month; 2 months in service years 2 to 5, to the end of a month; 3 months from service year 6, to the end of a month | Canton standard contract Art. 3, 7, 8 |
- Bern: for a contract of 4 months or less, probation is 2 weeks.
- Vaud: if the person you employ lives in a flat you provide, notice after probation is 2 months instead.
Sources: the Code of Obligations and each canton's standard contract for household work, linked in the table.
Code of Obligations, official textCommon questions
Can I end the employment in the middle of a month?
Unless another valid arrangement applies, ordinary notice after probation ends at month-end. You may agree a different end date in writing while still observing the notice period. Ending the contract by mutual agreement is also possible, provided mandatory rights are respected.
Can I give notice while the person I employ is ill?
Not after probation while the person is unable to work through no fault of their own because of illness or accident: for 30 days in the first year of service, 90 days from the second to the fifth year and 180 days from the sixth. The same protection applies during pregnancy and for 16 weeks after the birth. Notice given during this period is void. If notice was given earlier, its period stops during this time and continues afterwards (Art. 336c CO).
Can we agree to a longer notice period?
Yes, in writing and equally for both sides. If different periods are agreed, the longer one applies to both (Art. 335a CO). After probation, an individual agreement may not make it shorter than the Code of Obligations allows (Art. 335c CO).
Must notice be given in writing?
The CO does not require this, but you need to be able to prove receipt. Written notice is expected in Basel-Stadt (§ 13 NAV BS) and Geneva; in Geneva it is nevertheless valid if the sender proves that the recipient actually learned of it (Art. 23(2) CTT-EDom). Written notice is the general rule in Bern (Art. 9 NAV BE). In Zurich it may be written or oral (Art. 18 NAV ZH). Always give notice in writing.