Arztzeugnis (Medical Certificate)
An Arztzeugnis is a doctor's written confirmation that an employee is unfit to work due to illness or injury. In Switzerland, you may request one from the third day of absence onward under the ArG. The employee pays for the first certificate; you cover costs if you request earlier. The most common mistake is demanding a certificate on day one—legally risky and damaging to trust.
An Arztzeugnis is a medical certificate issued by a licensed Swiss doctor stating that an employee is unable to work due to illness or injury. It confirms dates and sometimes the expected return date, but does not diagnose.
This document protects both you and the employee: it establishes that absence is medically justified and creates a paper trail for sickness-absence management and insurance purposes.
When You Can Request One
The Swiss Federal Law on Work (Arbeitsgesetz, ArG) permits you to request a medical certificate starting on the third consecutive day of absence. Before day three, you have no legal right to demand one. If you request one earlier, you must cover the doctor's fee—typically CHF 30–50.
Some GAV (collective labour agreements) may set stricter rules, so check yours. Remote workers and saloon staff follow the same rules. If an employee is absent again within two weeks, a new certificate may be required depending on your company policy and canton-specific practice.
- Request only from day 3 onward unless your GAV says otherwise
- If you request on day 1 or 2, you pay the doctor's fee
- Employee normally pays for the first certificate themselves
- Certificate must come from a licensed Swiss doctor (MD, Facharzt)
- No diagnosis required—only fitness-to-work statement
- Keep certificate in personnel file under data protection rules (revDSG)
Your Obligation as Employer
You must accept any valid Arztzeugnis from a licensed doctor. You cannot demand a second opinion or refuse it because you doubt its accuracy—that requires a formal medical assessment (Zeugnisüberprüfung) by a doctor you appoint, and this is costly and rare.
Store certificates securely and separately from other personnel documents. Under revDSG (Swiss Data Protection Act), medical data is sensitive; access should be limited to need-to-know staff only—usually payroll and absence management, not the entire management team.
- Accept the certificate if it comes from a valid Swiss doctor
- Do not demand explanation of diagnosis or medical details
- Store securely under revDSG data protection requirements
- Use it only for sickness-absence tracking and benefit eligibility
- Do not share with colleagues or third parties without consent
- Keep for at least one full calendar year for audit purposes
Most Common Mistake
The biggest error is requesting or demanding a certificate on day one or two of absence. This is legally risky: ArG does not permit it, and you will likely have to pay the CHF 30–50 fee. More importantly, it signals distrust and damages the employment relationship.
A second mistake is not respecting the medical privacy in the certificate. If you share it casually, discuss the diagnosis in a team meeting, or file it in a shared folder, you breach revDSG and expose yourself to complaints to the cantonal data protection authority.
- Never demand a certificate before day 3—ArG forbids it
- Do not ask for details about diagnosis or test results
- Do not share the certificate with colleagues or clients
- Avoid repeated requests for short absences (damages trust)
- Do not refuse a valid certificate from a licensed doctor
- Do not file it in open personnel folders or shared drives
Frequently asked questions
- Can I ask for a medical certificate on the first day of absence?
- No. ArG permits you to request one only from day three onward. If you request it earlier, you must pay the doctor's fee (typically CHF 30–50). Asking on day one is also poor practice for employee relations.
- Who pays for the Arztzeugnis?
- The employee pays for the first certificate themselves. If you request one on day one or two (against ArG), you pay. If absence recurs within two weeks, your company policy or GAV determines who pays for the second and subsequent certificates.
- Can I demand a second medical opinion if I doubt the first certificate?
- Not easily. You can order a formal medical assessment (Zeugnisüberprüfung) by a doctor of your choice, but this is expensive and requires strong grounds. A standard certificate from a licensed Swiss doctor must be accepted. Consult a lawyer if you suspect fraud.
General information for Swiss employers, not legal advice. Have a lawyer confirm anything with legal consequences.