Annual leave in Switzerland

In Switzerland, employers are obliged to provide their employees with a minimum number of days off work each year, known as annual leave or vacation leave. The government has strict rules outlining how much paid time off should be offered for jobs in Switzerland, along with some rules on how to apply for it.

Taking annual leave in Switzerland

Unlike sick leave and maternity leave, annual leave in Switzerland is taken at the discretion of the worker. Taking time off is an essential part of maintaining a good balance between work and family life, and can help prevent burnout.

What is annual leave?

Annual leave refers to the number of working days a year that you are allowed to take as time off, in addition to any public holidays treated as days off by your canton of residence. During these days, employees are not expected to work, but will still continue to receive their full salary.

How much paid time off am I entitled to?

According to the Swiss Code of Obligations, workers in Switzerland are entitled to at least four weeks of paid vacation per year, alongside statutory public holidays. This applies to both full-time and part-time workers, equating to 20 days off per year for someone who works a five-day week. For part-time workers, leave is allocated proportionally - for example someone who works four days a week is typically given 16 days off per year.

Workers below the age of 20 are entitled to at least five weeks of paid vacation (25 vacation days for a full-time worker).

Legally, two weeks of this leave needs to be taken consecutively in one go. 

While this is the statutory minimum, employees of international companies in Switzerland and workers on collective employment agreements may be entitled to more days off. According to the Labour Force Survey, in 2022, staff in the alpine nation were given an average of 5,2 weeks off a year.

The number of holiday days you are given will be negotiated during your onboarding procedure and will be clearly stated in your work contract. Your contract will also state whether your annual leave entitlement includes - or is given on top of - national and regional holidays. 

Annual leave as a freelancer in Switzerland

Unlike salaried employees, freelancers are given full control over the timing and duration of their annual leave. In 2022, self-employed people took an average of 3,3 weeks of holiday a year, well below the statutory minimum for salaried workers. 

How to take annual leave in Switzerland

To take annual leave in Switzerland, you must book the time off in advance. While notice periods vary from company to company, generally speaking, employers will require around two months’ warning in order to approve annual leave.

The applicant must make sure they have enough remaining holiday days to take the time off requested, and must make the request to their employer officially, usually in writing.

Can your employer refuse your request for paid time off?

In Switzerland, you must have your employer’s consent to take paid time off, and bosses are not obligated to grant paid leave for specific days. Instead, they are only required to take your wishes into account when assigning leave. 

If your holiday plans are not compatible with the needs and interests of your employer, they may request that you change the days or else deny the leave entirely.

Are there situations where you don’t have to apply for annual leave?

According to Swiss law, there are several occasions where you do not have to apply for annual leave in advance, nor use your statutory holiday days to take the time off. These cases, known as leaves of absence, are for:

• Appearances in court or other legal engagements
• Public duties such as national service, serving in parliament and / or in a local council
• Marriage
• Death of a close relative
• Moving house

However, while these are classified as reasons for absence, the law does not define how long the time off should be in each case. For more information about your specific situation, it is best to speak to your employer.

Can your employer cancel your paid time off once approved?

Your employer is not allowed to cancel your days off once agreed upon without good reason. Companies are able to request that you postpone or move your time off for urgent business reasons and can request you return from your holiday if there is an emergency. 

However, in the latter case, all costs incurred by the employee in returning to work early must be paid for by the company.

Becoming ill while on annual leave

If you fall ill while on annual leave, depending on the nature of your illness, you might be able to be reimbursed for your holiday days. This will depend on whether you are able to relax and rest despite your condition.

If you have an accident or develop an illness that prohibits you from enjoying your holiday, you can provide your employer with a note from your GP to avoid losing the holiday days. Once approved, the time you have already spent on holiday while ill will be counted as sick leave and added back to your holiday entitlement.

Does annual leave carry over in Switzerland?

There are no specific rules stating that unspent holiday days from one year have to carry on to the next. Some Swiss employers require their employees to use all their holiday days by the end of each calendar year, while others allow employees to carry over their days from previous years. If in doubt, ask your employer what their policy is. 

Using paid leave after losing or leaving your job

If you have lost your job, you are allowed to use all of your remaining holiday days during the notice period. However, granting this leave is still up to the discretion of the employer. If paid leave is not used, most companies will come to a financial settlement with the redundant employee.

Similarly if you resign from your job, most employers will allow you to take unspent holiday leave during your notice period. Any unused holiday days will then be paid out at the end of your contract, subject to taxation.