Holidays and public holidays

All employees in Switzerland are entitled to at least four weeks’ paid leave per year (young people under the age of 20 are entitled to five weeks), two of which must be taken consecutively. Part-time employees are also entitled to paid leave in proportion to the percentage of standard hours they work. Leave must be taken; it may not be compensated through payment. There are no further statutory leave entitlements. However, longer entitlements are customary in collective bargaining agreements, and 25 days per year are usually granted to employees over the age of 50. During time-off, salaries are paid in exactly the same manner as during regular working time. Additional vacation pay, as frequently encountered in tariff agreements in the EU, is unknown in Switzerland.

In addition, under federal law, employees have time-off on nine legally stipulated public holidays. As cantons may stipulate their own public holidays, some cantons may have more public holidays. Only 1 August, New Year’s Day, Ascension Day (celebrated 40 days after Easter and marking the ascension of Jesus Christ to heaven) and Christmas Day are holidays throughout the country; all other public holidays vary from canton to canton. Employees also receive time-off for marriage, funerals, moving, dental appointments, etc. The law does not stipulate how much time may be taken off.