Public Holiday Calendar Guide for Switzerland
Switzerland has a strongly cantonal public-holiday system. Swiss National Day is the only federal public holiday, while cantons determine which additional holidays receive equivalent protection under federal labour law.[1] Holiday calendars can therefore differ substantially between cantons and even between parts of the same canton, making the relevant local calendar essential for work, travel, appointments, and business planning.
Federal and Cantonal Holiday Rules
Swiss National Day is the country's only federal public holiday and is treated in labour law in the same way as a Sunday.[1] Cantons may designate up to eight additional holidays that are likewise treated as Sundays for the purposes of the Employment Act, and they may designate different holidays for different parts of a canton.[1][2]
This federal structure means that familiar observances such as Good Friday, Easter Monday, Corpus Christi, All Saints' Day, or other religious and civic holidays should not automatically be assumed to have the same legal status throughout Switzerland. The applicable cantonal calendar determines which additional holidays receive statutory recognition equivalent to Sunday under federal labour law.[1]
What a Recognized Holiday Means for Employees
As a general rule, employees covered by the Employment Act may not be required to work on holidays that are legally treated as Sundays. The same exceptions that permit Sunday work can also apply to these holidays, and businesses outside an applicable exemption generally need authorization to employ staff.[1][2]
Employees on a monthly salary continue to receive their salary when working time is lost because of a recognized holiday. The rules differ for employees paid by the hour: payment for cantonal holidays depends on the individual employment contract or an applicable collective agreement. Swiss National Day is the exception, because it must be paid by law for hourly paid employees as well.[1]
Religious Holidays Outside the Official Calendar
Federal labour law also addresses religious observances that a canton has not designated as official holidays. Employees may stop work for other religious holidays if they give their employer the legally required advance notice.[1] Employers must also, where possible, allow employees the necessary time to attend religious celebrations when requested.[2]
This provision is particularly relevant in a country where the statutory holiday calendar varies regionally and does not encompass every religious tradition. Taking time off for an unrecognized religious observance is not the same as receiving an additional statutory public holiday, so employees should arrange the absence with their employer in accordance with the applicable rules.[1][2]
When a Holiday Falls on a Normal Day Off
Swiss labour rules do not provide an automatic replacement day when a recognized holiday falls on a day on which an employee would not normally work. The missed holiday does not have to be granted again later.[1] Conversely, working hours lost because a recognized holiday falls on a normal working day do not have to be made up.
This distinction is useful when comparing holiday calendars or planning leave. The practical amount of time away from work can depend not only on the canton's holiday list but also on an employee's normal working pattern.
Shops and Holiday Opening Rules
Public-holiday status does not mean that every shop in Switzerland must follow identical opening arrangements. Because recognized holidays are generally treated like Sundays under labour law, employing retail staff is subject to Sunday-work restrictions and exemptions. Cantonal legislation separately regulates whether shops may open on Sundays.[3]
Federal rules provide exemptions for certain businesses serving travelers at railway stations, airports, other public-transport terminals, and border locations. Certain businesses in tourist areas and other specifically defined establishments can also fall within exemptions from the ordinary Sunday-work authorization requirement.[3] Travelers should therefore check actual opening hours instead of assuming either universal closure or universal availability.
How to Plan Around Swiss Public Holidays
For a reliable holiday check, identify the canton and, where relevant, the part of the canton in which the workplace, appointment, or service is located. Federal law explicitly permits cantons to recognize different holidays in different cantonal areas.[2] A calendar for one Swiss location should therefore not be used automatically for another.
Businesses should also distinguish between a holiday's legal status and the operating hours of a particular organization. Some activities are exempt from ordinary Sunday-work restrictions, while cantonal rest-day and shop-opening rules can add further requirements.[2][3] For important appointments, shopping, deliveries, or services, the applicable cantonal calendar and the provider's own schedule are the safest references.
Frequently Asked Questions about Holidays in Switzerland
Does Switzerland have one nationwide public-holiday calendar?
No. Swiss National Day is the only federal public holiday. Cantons may designate up to eight additional holidays that are treated like Sundays under federal labour law, and the recognized holidays vary between cantons.[1][2]
Can public holidays differ within the same canton?
Yes. Federal labour law permits cantons to designate recognized holidays differently for separate parts of the canton.[2] The precise local calendar can therefore matter even after the canton is known.
Do employees have to make up hours lost because of a public holiday?
No. Working time lost because of a legally recognized holiday does not generally have to be made up.[1] However, there is also no automatic entitlement to a replacement holiday when the observance falls on a day on which the employee would not normally work.
Are all public holidays paid for hourly paid employees?
Not necessarily. Monthly salaried employees continue to receive their salary for working hours lost because of recognized holidays. For hourly paid employees, payment for cantonal holidays generally depends on the employment contract or an applicable collective agreement. The federal public holiday is paid by law even for hourly paid employees.[1]
Can an employee take time off for a religious holiday that is not officially recognized?
Federal labour law allows employees to stop work for religious holidays that are not officially recognized by the canton, provided they give the required advance notice to their employer.[1][2]
Are shops always closed on Swiss public holidays?
No. Recognized holidays are generally subject to rules comparable to Sunday work, but exemptions exist for certain businesses, including qualifying outlets serving travelers at transport hubs and some establishments in tourist areas.[3] Cantonal shop-opening rules also apply, so actual opening hours should be checked locally.
Sources
- Freizeit und Feiertage- Staatssekretariat für Wirtschaft SECO
- Wegleitung zum Arbeitsgesetz und zu den Verordnungen 1 und 2- Staatssekretariat für Wirtschaft SECO
- FAQ Ladenöffnung am Sonntag- Staatssekretariat für Wirtschaft SECO