How long is parental leave in Switzerland?

In Switzerland, there is no explicit parental leave provision for fathers beyond the available paternity leave. For mothers, maternity leave is available and can be extended by a maximum of 2 unpaid weeks. Additionally, a supported employee with a seriously ill child due to illness or accident is entitled to 14 weeks of paid special leave.

What is the process for applying for paternity leave in Switzerland?

The father must submit the child’s birth certificate as soon as possible, typically available within 2 weeks after birth.

Paternity leave entitles the father to 2 weeks (10 business days) of leave, which can be taken consecutively or as individual days within 6 months of the child’s birth to qualify for compensation. The leave days count only on days when the father has worked and do not include bank holidays or official days off.

What are the eligibility rules for maternity leave in Switzerland?

Female supported employees in Switzerland are entitled to maternity allowances from the Federal Maternity Insurance if they meet the following conditions:

• The supported employee must have been contributing to the AVS (Swiss social security system) during the last 9 months immediately before the birth. In the case of a premature birth, this period is reduced as follows:

- 6 months before the 7th month of pregnancy,

- 7 months before the 8th month of pregnancy,

- 8 months before the 9th month of pregnancy.

• The supported employee must have been earning a salary for at least 5 months during this period.

What is the process for applying for maternity leave in Switzerland?

In Switzerland, the process for a supported employee to apply for maternity leave involves several steps:

• Maternity leave typically spans 14 weeks and commences on the child's birth date. During this period, the supported employee receives 80% of their last salary, capped at CHF 220 per day

• As the legal employer, Velocity Global Switzerland is responsible for applying for maternity leave at the relevant authorities on behalf of the supported employee.

• To facilitate this, the supported employee must send Velocity Global Switzerland a copy of the birth certificate as soon as possible, typically available two weeks after childbirth.

This process ensures that the necessary application and documents are in order for the maternity leave to proceed smoothly.

How long is the paternity leave in Switzerland?

In Switzerland, fathers are entitled to 2 weeks of paternity leave (10 business days) within a 6-month period from the birth of their child. This leave can be taken either consecutively or in single days.

What are the eligibility rules for paternity leave in Switzerland?

Paternity leave eligibility rules in Switzerland are as follows:

Pursuant to Article 16j et seq. of the Federal Compensation for Loss of Earnings Act (EOG), male employees are entitled to paternity compensation if they meet the following conditions:

• The employee must have been insured within the meaning of the Federal Law on Old Age and Survivors' Insurance (AHVG) for the 9 months immediately preceding the birth of the child.
• The employee must have been gainfully employed for at least 5 months within this 9-month period.
• The employee must still be employed at the time of the delivery.

Additionally, a male employee is entitled to paternity compensation paid by government insurance if:

• He is the legal father at the time of the birth of the child.
• He becomes the legal father within 6 months of the child's birth.

It is important for male employees to ensure they meet these criteria to qualify for paternity leave benefits in Switzerland.

How is paternity leave payment calculated in Switzerland?

During the 2 weeks of paternity leave in Switzerland, fathers receive 80% of the average earned income before the beginning of the entitlement to compensation. The paternity compensation is provided in the form of a daily allowance, with a maximum of 14 daily allowances, and is capped at CHF 220 per day.

What is the process for applying for parental leave in Switzerland?

In Switzerland, the process for applying for parental leave is differentiated between mothers and fathers:

• Mothers are entitled to a legally mandated period of maternity leave. At the end of the 2 weeks of maternity leave, an employer may decide whether to grant the mother's request for an extended period of unpaid leave.

• Fathers do not have a legal right to extend paternity leave. Any extension beyond the legal paternity leave must be arranged directly with their employer.