Public Holidays in Switzerland in 2024: A Comprehensive Guide
Swiss public holidays in 2024 exhibit a great diversity due to regional specifics of the cantons, although some dates are celebrated nationwide. Here’s a comprehensive guide to national and regional public holidays in Switzerland for 2024:
– January 1st (New Year’s Day): Observed in all cantons.
– January 2nd (Saint Berchtold): Celebrated in several cantons including AG, BE, FR, GL, JU, LU, OW, SH, TG, VD.
– January 6th (Epiphany): GR, LU, SZ, TI, UR mark this feast.
– March 1st (Republic Day): Only in NE.
– March 19th (Saint Joseph): GR, LU, NW, SZ, TI, UR, VS celebrate this day.
– March 29th (Good Friday): Celebrated in all cantons except TI and VS.
– April 1st (Easter Monday): The majority of cantons, except NE, SO, VS, ZG.
– May 1st (Labor Day): BL, BS, JU, LU, NE, SH, SO, TG, TI, ZH.
– May 9th (Ascension Day): Celebrated across Switzerland.
– May 20th (Whit Monday): Observed in all cantons except NE, SO, VS, ZG.
– May 30th (Corpus Christi): Widely celebrated except in certain cantons like AR, BL, BS, BE, GE, GL, NE, SH, SG, TG, VD, ZH.
– August 1st (Swiss National Day): A celebration across all cantons.
– August 15th (Assumption): Marked in many cantons, AG, AI, FR, JU, LU, NW, OW, SO, SZ, TI, UR, VS, ZG.
– September 5th (Geneva Fast): Specific to Geneva.
– September 16th (Federal Fast Day): Observed in the canton of VD.
– September 22nd (Saint Maurice): Celebrated in AI.
– September 25th (St. Nicholas of Flüe Day): A public holiday in OW.
– November 1st (All Saints’ Day): Observed in most cantons, except AR, BL, BS, BE, GE, GR, NE, SH, TG, VD, ZH.
– December 8th (Immaculate Conception): Celebrated in many cantons, AG, AI, FR, GR, LU, NW, OW, SZ, TI, UR, VS, ZG.
– December 24th (Christmas Eve): GL marks this day.
– December 25th (Christmas Day): A national public holiday.
– December 26th (St. Stephen’s Day): Celebrated in most cantons, with some exceptions, GE, JU, NE, SO, VS, VD, ZG.
– December 31st (New Year’s Eve, Restoration of the Republic): Specific to GL and GE.
In Switzerland, compensation for public holidays is regulated by legal and contractual provisions that ensure employees are not financially disadvantaged on official holidays. Here are the basic principles of public holiday compensation in Switzerland:
Right to public holiday compensation
According to the Labor Law (LTr) and the Swiss Code of Obligations (CO), employees are entitled to compensation for national and cantonal official public holidays, provided these days fall on days they would normally work.
Number of paid public holidays
Swiss legislation states that employees are entitled to at least 8 paid public holidays per year, with August 1st (Swiss National Day) being mandatory as a paid public holiday in all cantons. However, most cantons and employers may offer more than the legal minimum, often around 12 to 15 days, depending on the employment contract or collective agreement.
Calculation of compensation
Compensation for a public holiday is usually calculated based on the employee’s usual salary if they had worked that day. This includes the base salary and may also include other elements such as bonuses and average overtime hours if specified in the contract or collective agreement.
Special working conditions
In some cases, if an employee works on a public holiday (which may occur in sectors such as hospitality, healthcare, or security services), they may be entitled to additional compensation. This compensation may take the form of a higher salary (e.g., 150% of the normal rate) or compensatory leave.
Public holidays and part-time work
For part-time employees, the right to public holiday compensation is proportional to their usual working hours. If a public holiday falls on a day when they would not normally work, they generally do not have the right to compensation.
Absences and probationary periods
Rights to paid public holidays are generally accrued even during probationary periods, absences due to illness or accident, as long as the employee has an appropriate medical certificate. However, if an employee is unjustifiably absent the day before or after a public holiday, they may lose their right to compensation for that public holiday.
Cantonal differences
It’s important to note that specific practices may vary from canton to canton in Switzerland, and companies may also have internal policies that offer additional benefits beyond basic legislation.
In summary, in Switzerland, public holidays are generally paid, and employees are compensated as if they had worked, ensuring that official rest days do not result in income loss. However, it is advisable for employers to check their employment contract or applicable collective agreements for specific details regarding their particular situation.
My Swiss Company – Corporate Services Provider provides support to businesses in Switzerland in managing complex payroll matters, ensuring that all legal and contractual requirements are met, such as Salary Calculation, by helping companies accurately calculate salaries taking into account minimum wages set by cantonal laws in Switzerland and applicable collective labor agreements (CLA). This ensures that companies comply with legal obligations regarding compensation.
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