Arranging childcare

Working parents sometimes face the situation where their child is ill and cannot attend crèche, kindergarten or school as normal. This can leave the parents with no one to look after their children.

If you present a doctor’s certificate to your employer, they must grant you up to three days’ paid leave to look after your ill child. You should still look for an alternative solution as quickly as possible (such as friends or relatives), unless a parent needs to be present, for example with a seriously ill newborn.

If your friends or relatives are unable to help out, you can request assistance from the Red Cross, which runs a home childcare service. The service generally provides a trained person who can take care of your child, play with them, prepare lunch and give them their medicine, as necessary. Some health insurers reimburse the cost of this service.

If your child is under the age of 18 and seriously ill, for example if they have cancer, you are entitled to a longer period of paid leave. In this case, parents have the right to a total of 14 weeks’ paid leave (on 80% of their salary) to care for their seriously ill or injured child, subject to certain conditions.

At the end of your maternity leave, you have the option of entrusting your children to a public crèche in your local commune during the day. Depending on availability and your needs, your children can be cared for one or more days a week. Contact your local commune early on to find out more.

In addition to public crèches, there are Private and semi-private crèches.

Contact your local commune for more information.

Some companies run an in-house crèche for their employees’ children. Ask your employer about this possibility and what the conditions are.

If they have free places, these crèches will also sometimes take children of people who do not work at the company. Contact your local commune for more information.

It may be possible to leave your child at a kindergarten even if they have not yet reached the official kindergarten age. You can leave them for a few hours a day, two or three times a week, but not for full days. Contact your local commune for more information in your area.

In Switzerland you also have the possibility of entrusting your child to a childminder. This is someone who looks after another person’s child or children in a private home. Most belong to a childminders’ organisation that guarantees a safe, high-quality service. For information on availability, hours and costs, contact your local commune’.

Schools, parents’ associations and other private or semi-public associations can also organise lunchtime childcare; this service also includes a meal.

This service varies depending on the canton and commune.

Some schools now provide supervision both before and after lessons and during the lunch break. For more information, please contact the school authorities or your local commune

Childcare costs generally vary according to your canton of residence and your income. Ask the various institutions for information specific to your case. 

Please contact your local commune for information about the full range of childcare services in your area.

Your employer can give you detailed information on how much time you can take off work if your child is ill; alternatively consult the Federal Social Insurance Office webpage.