Night Allowance in Switzerland: 25% Wage or 10% Time?
Night allowance in Switzerland clearly explained: When a 25% wage supplement applies, when a 10% time supplement is due, and what companies need to check.
The most important distinction regarding the night allowance in Switzerland is not the industry but the frequency of night work. For temporary night work, a wage supplement of at least 25 percent generally applies. For permanent or regularly recurring night work, there is generally an entitlement to a time supplement of 10 percent. Contracts, collective labor agreements, and possible exceptions must also be checked.
Short answer: Those who perform night work on no more than 24 nights per calendar year generally receive at least a 25% wage supplement. Those who work night shifts on 25 or more nights per calendar year are generally entitled to a 10% time supplement. The company’s night period usually runs from 11:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m., but can be shifted by up to one hour with employee consent.
This article explains the general rules according to Swiss labor law. It does not replace legal advice. The decisive factors are always the specific company, any permits, the applicable collective labor agreement, and the employment contract.
Key Points at a Glance
| Situation | Basic Rule According to Labor Law | Simple Example |
|---|---|---|
| Temporary night work | at least 25% wage supplement | 4 night hours × CHF 30 base wage = CHF 30 supplement |
| Permanent or regularly recurring night work | 10% time supplement | 8 night hours = 48 minutes compensatory rest time |
| Company night period | usually 11:00 p.m.–6:00 a.m. | a shift from 10:00 p.m.–2:00 a.m. normally includes 3 night hours |
| Collective agreement or contract | may provide additional or different benefits | check shift allowance, higher supplement, or own time windows |
The official overview can be found at the SECO on Night and Sunday Work. Also, ch.ch explains Night and Sunday Work in a concise form.
From When Does Night Work Apply in Switzerland?
The statutory night period generally covers seven hours between 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. A company can shift the start and end times by up to one hour with the consent of the employee representation or the majority of affected employees. Therefore, you should not only look at the clock but also check the night period defined by the company.
For a shift from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m., seven hours between 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. fall under night work during the normal night period. Breaks are not automatically counted as paid working time. For the calculation, you therefore need the actually creditable night working time.
When Does a 25 Percent Wage Supplement Apply?
The wage supplement of at least 25 percent generally applies to temporary night work. Night work is considered temporary if a person works no more than 24 nights per calendar year. If, unexpectedly, the threshold of 25 nights is reached, the time supplement is generally owed from the 25th night onward; for the nights worked before, the wage supplement remains applicable.
Example of the Wage Supplement
A person works four creditable night hours with a base wage of CHF 30 per hour temporarily:
- Base wage for four hours: CHF 120
- Wage supplement 25%: CHF 30
- Total for these four night hours: CHF 150
The exact calculation basis can be influenced by law, collective agreements, and contracts. Therefore, check the wage type and applicable regulations before releasing an amount.
When Does a 10 Percent Time Supplement Apply?
Those who perform permanent or regularly recurring night work are generally entitled to a 10 percent time supplement. Regularly recurring usually means 25 or more night shifts per calendar year. The compensation must be granted as time off and is generally to be taken within one year.
For eight creditable night hours, 10 percent equals 48 minutes of compensatory rest time. This is not a 25 percent time supplement and usually not a freely selectable alternative to the wage supplement. This exact confusion often leads to errors in duty rosters and payroll preparation.
SECO describes certain exceptions where the time supplement is not owed or can be implemented differently. These include narrowly defined cases, for example, when the average company shift duration including breaks does not exceed seven hours. Such exceptions should not be derived from a brief description but should be professionally reviewed for your company.
Wage or Time: How to Make the Right Assignment
- Clarify company night period: Does 11:00 p.m.–6:00 a.m. apply, or has the window been permissibly shifted?
- Count night shifts per person: Consider not only the current pay period but the calendar year.
- Check collective agreement and contract: Additional shift allowances or more specific rules may apply.
- Determine creditable night hours: Clearly separate working time, breaks, and any on-call regulations.
- Document compensation: Clearly show wage supplement or time supplement.
What Employers Should Document in Planning and Payroll Preparation
| Area to Check | What Should Be Documented | Typical Mistake |
|---|---|---|
| Night period | Valid company time window | Counting every hour after 10:00 p.m. indiscriminately |
| Frequency | Night shifts per person and calendar year | Considering only the current month |
| Working time | Creditable night hours and breaks | Equating shift duration with working time |
| Legal basis | ArG, collective agreement, contract, and permit | Taking industry values from the internet |
| Compensation | Amount or compensatory rest time | Confusing 25% wage and 10% time supplements |
For operational planning, a clear connection between shift planning, time tracking, and payroll preparation helps. job.rocks supports work scheduling and mobile time tracking. However, the platform does not replace legal assessment or payroll accounting; supplement rules and exports must be configured and checked appropriately for the company.
What Applies in Hospitality, Care, Industry, or Security Services?
The labor law forms the general framework. Industry collective agreements, cantonal regulations, public-law employment relationships, and individual contracts may contain additional entitlements or different calculation logics. Therefore, blanket statements like “in care, 30 percent always applies” or “in hospitality, supplements are always cumulative” are not reliable.
Instead, check:
- Which collective agreement or personnel regulations apply?
- Is the person fully subject to labor law?
- Is the night work temporary or regular?
- Are there additional shift, Sunday, or holiday allowances?
- How are overlaps of multiple supplements handled?
FAQ on Night Allowance in Switzerland
How high is the night allowance in Switzerland?
For temporary night work, the statutory wage supplement is generally at least 25 percent. For permanent or regularly recurring night work, a time supplement of 10 percent generally applies.
From what time does night work start?
The night period is generally between 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. A company can shift this seven-hour window by up to one hour with the required consent.
Can I choose between money and time off?
Not freely. Whether a wage or time supplement applies mainly depends on whether the night work is temporary or regularly recurring. Collective agreements, contracts, and legal exceptions must also be checked.
Does the supplement also apply to part-time work?
Part-time work alone does not exclude entitlement. The decisive factors are the creditable night work, frequency of shifts, and applicable legal or contractual rules.
What happens from the 25th night onward?
From 25 nights per calendar year, night work is usually considered regularly recurring. Then, from the 25th night onward, the 10 percent time supplement is generally relevant; previously correctly paid wage supplements are not retroactively converted into time.
Where can I clarify a concrete entitlement?
First check the employment contract, collective agreement, personnel regulations, and payroll. If uncertain, the cantonal labor inspection, a union, or a labor law specialist can help.
Conclusion: Clarify Frequency First, Then Correctly Account
For the night allowance in Switzerland, there is no blanket “25 percent time or wage.” The reliable short form is: temporary generally 25 percent wage, regularly generally 10 percent time. Those who document night period, frequency, collective agreements, and creditable hours clearly create a reliable basis for duty rosters and payroll preparation.
If you coordinate changing night and day shifts, you can test the processes in a demo with your own schedule or view the pricing models of job.rocks.