Sick pay in Switzerland (2026)
Last reviewed: 7 November 2026
In short: Swiss law has no fixed sick-pay scale: the employer pays the wage for a limited time if the employment lasted more than three months. Unless a contract sets longer periods, that is three weeks in the first year of service and an appropriately longer time afterwards. Compulsory insurance can replace the employer’s duty if it covers at least four fifths of the wage.
| Rule | What applies |
|---|---|
| Who pays sick payBeing ill and unable to work | The employer pays the wage for a limited time if the employee is prevented from working by illness through no fault of their own. If the employee is compulsorily insured by law against the economic effects of illness, the employer need not pay when the insurance covers at least four fifths of the wage for that time. [1] |
| Sick pay rateBeing ill and unable to work | The employer pays the wage due for the period, plus appropriate compensation for lost pay in kind. Where compulsory insurance applies, the employer owes the difference between the insurance benefit and four fifths of the wage. [1] |
| Maximum durationBeing ill and unable to work | Unless an agreement, standard contract or collective agreement sets longer periods, the employer pays the wage for three weeks in the first year of service and afterwards for an appropriately longer time, depending on length of service and special circumstances. [1] |
| Waiting daysBeing ill and unable to work | The right applies if the employment has lasted more than three months or was entered into for more than three months. [1] |
| Medical certificateBeing ill and unable to work | ⚠ Not yet verified |
Notes
- A written agreement, standard contract or collective agreement may set different rules if they are at least equivalent for the employee (Art. 324a(4) OR).
- Art. 324a and 324b of the Code of Obligations contain no certificate rule; no federal rule was verified at an official source.
Sources
- Fedlex (Bundeskanzlei): Bundesgesetz betreffend die Ergänzung des Schweizerischen Zivilgesetzbuches (Fünfter Teil: Obligationenrecht), SR 220, Stand am 1. Oktober 2026 (Art. 324a, 324b) (consulted 7 November 2026) · all sources
Related pages
General information, not legal advice. Rules change: check the official source before you fly or ride.