If you are in paid work you will generally be entitled to maternity benefit, whether you are employed or self-employed. This right is subject to the following conditions:
You were insured under the OASI/AHV scheme for the nine months prior to the birth.
You worked for at least five months during your pregnancy.
When the child is born, you are still employed, self-employed or working for your husband's business for a wage.
You are also entitled to maternity benefit if you receive a daily allowance from the unemployment, invalidity, health or accident insurance schemes based on your previous employment. Find out more from your employer or the insurer that pays your benefits.
Maternity leave lasts for 98 days, or 14 weeks. Maternity benefit amounts to 80% of your earnings, but no more than CHF 220 per day. Cantonal provisions, personnel regulations and collective employment contracts may provide for more generous arrangements.
If an insurer is paying you a daily allowance (see above), your maternity benefit will at least match what you are already receiving – or would be entitled to claim – at the time of the birth.
Maternity leave generally begins on the day your baby is born. You may be able to start it later in some cases. If your newborn has to stay in hospital for more than 14 days directly after the birth, the period for which you can claim maternity benefit is extended by a maximum of 56 days, provided that you return to work when your maternity leave ends.
If the father or spouse of the mother dies within six months of the child’s birth, the mother is entitled to an additional two weeks’ leave.
Please note: If you go back to work sooner than the end of the 14th week after the birth, you lose your entitlement to any further maternity benefit. You are not allowed to return to work in the first eight weeks after the birth.
If you are pregnant or have given birth less than 16 weeks ago, you benefit from special safeguards that are laid down in law. You cannot be dismissed while you are pregnant or on maternity leave, for example.
If you are a father who is in paid employment or self-employment, you are entitled to second parent leave (formerly known as paternity leave) on the following conditions:
You are the legal father of the child.
You were insured under the OASI/AHV scheme for the nine months prior to the birth of your child.
You worked for at least five months during the mother's pregnancy.
If you are the biological mother's wife, you are also entitled to second parent leave if you meet the following conditions:
the child was conceived using sperm donated in accordance with the law on assisted reproduction;
you are married to the biological mother at the time of the child's birth;
you fulfil the same conditions as the father with regard to employment and contributions (see above).
You are also entitled to second parent benefit if you receive a daily allowance from the unemployment, invalidity, health or accident insurance schemes based on your previous employment. Find out more from your employer or the insurer that pays your benefits.
Paternity leave lasts for 2 weeks, or 14 daily allowances. Paternity benefit amounts to 80% of your earnings, but no more than CHF 220 per day. Cantonal provisions, personnel regulations and collective employment contracts may provide for more generous arrangements.
If an insurer is paying you a daily allowance (see above), your paternity/second parent benefit will at least match what you are already receiving – or would be entitled to claim – at the time of the birth.
If the mother dies within 14 weeks of the child’s birth, the surviving spouse is entitled to a further 14 weeks’ leave.
Unlike maternity leave, paternity/second parent leave is flexible. You can take it all at once, or as individual days as long as it is taken in the six months after the birth of your child.
Mothers are entitled to extend their maternity leave by 2 weeks beyond the standard 14-week period. They do not receive benefits for those two additional weeks, however. At the end of these two weeks, the employer may decide whether or not to grant a mother's request for a longer period of unpaid leave.
Meanwhile fathers/second parents have no legal right to extend their paternity leave. They must arrange with their employer if they wish to do so.
Please note: Find out about your insurance cover before requesting unpaid leave.
If you are employed or self-employed, you are entitled to two weeks' paid adoption leave if you meet the following conditions:
you have been insured with OASI for the 9 months preceding the child's arrival;
you have been employed for at least 5 months during this period;
the child is under 4 years old.
Adoption leave must be taken within the year following the adoption of the child. It can be taken in blocks, weeks or individual days. You can choose which of you will take the two weeks' leave. You can also share it between you, provided you do not take the days at the same time.
If you are unemployed or unable to work at the time the child comes to live with you, you are not entitled to adoption allowance.
The adoption allowance corresponds to 80% of the average income from gainful employment obtained before the child comes to live with you, up to a maximum of CHF 220 per day. The allowance is not paid automatically. You must explicitly request it from the federal compensation office.
Brochures: Maternity benefit and paternity benefit