Working on Sundays and at night in Switzerland.

Night work: rules and authorisations

Occasional and regular night work

In Switzerland, the law prohibits work between 11pm and 6am.

However, working at night is possible, subject to special authorisation and the employee’s consent.

Night workers may not work for more than 9 hours in any 10-hour period, including breaks.

Please note: in Switzerland there is a difference between occasional and regular night work.

Temporary night work is of a fixed duration not to exceed six months per case.
Anything extending beyond this limit is classed as regular night work. Note: regular periods of night work for the same purpose over several years is also considered regular night work

Authorisation for night work

To employ workers for occasional night work, employers must contact the competent cantonal authority to apply for authorisation.

To apply for an authorisation to employ workers for regular night work over a longer period, employers must contact the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (webpage available in German, French and Italian).

Please note: workers who work at least 25 nights per year are entitled to undergo a medical examination every two years to prove that they are fit to work at night. In some cases, this medical examination is mandatory: for example, for young people working at night, and for workers exposed to difficult conditions (extreme temperatures, noise, vibrations, physical work, isolated work, etc.). From the age of 45, workers are entitled to this examination every year.

Night work: pay

Occasional night work

A supplement of at least 25% must be paid for work between 11pm and 6am carried out for less than 25 nights per calendar year.

Regular night work

Time off equal to 10% of the hours of night work performed must be provided for night work carried out on 25 or more nights per calendar year.

It is against the law to pay cash compensation instead of allowing time off, as the purpose of the time off is to allow workers to rest and make up for lack of sleep.

SECO also provides a guide with a detailed explanation of the rules on pay for regular night work.

Working on Sundays: rules and authorisations

Occasional and regular work on Sundays

Working on Sundays is generally prohibited in Switzerland.

However, working on Sundays is possible, subject to special authorisation and the employee’s consent.

Please note: in Switzerland there is a difference between occasional and regular work on Sundays:

Temporary Sunday work is of a fixed duration not to exceed six months per case. The calculation of the number of working days must include public holidays.
Anything extending beyond this limit is classed as regular Sunday work. Note: regular periods of Sunday work for the same purpose over several years is also considered regular Sunday work.

Authorisation for work on Sundays

To employ workers for occasional work on Sundays, employers must submit a request to the competent cantonal authority explaining why the work is necessary. The authority will provide further information and the necessary application forms.

To apply for authorisation to employ workers for regular work on Sundays, employers need to contact the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (webpage available in German, French and Italian).

Working on Sundays: pay

Occasional work on Sundays

Persons working up to six Sundays per year are entitled to a 50% wage supplement as well as time off in compensation that varies depending on the number of hours worked:

Persons working five hours or less on Sundays are entitled to take time off of the same duration within four weeks.
Persons working on Sundays for more than five hours are entitled to one day of rest of at least 24 consecutive hours (in addition to the daily rest, i.e. the resting time of at least 11 hours between two working days, amounting to time off of a total of 35 hours), during the current or the following week.

Regular work on Sundays

Persons working regularly on Sundays are entitled to time off in compensation that varies depending on the number of hours worked.

Persons working five hours or less on Sundays are entitled to take time off of the same duration within four weeks.
Compensation for work of more than five hours is a day of rest of at least 24 consecutive hours (in addition to the daily rest, i.e. the resting time of at least 11 hours between two working days, amounting to compensation of a total of 35 hours), during the current or the following week.

It is against the law to pay cash compensation instead of allowing time off, as the purpose of the time off is to allow workers to make up for loss of time to relax on the Sunday/public holiday they worked.

Working on Sundays and at night: exceptions to the rule

Working on Sundays and at night is possible in some professions and types of work without the need for authorisation. These include the health sector, the hospitality industry, certain shops such as newsstands and bakeries, theatres and cinemas and the media.

The State Secretariat for Economic Affairs provides an up-to-date list (webpage available in German, French and Italian) of professions for which no authorisation is required for night work and work on Sundays.

Further information and useful contacts

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Working on Sundays and at night