Shift Work (Schichtarbeit)
Shift work (Schichtarbeit) means assigning employees to work outside the standard daytime schedule—mornings, evenings, nights, or rotating cycles. Swiss labour law (ArG) requires you to manage rest periods, monitor fatigue risk, and often pay shift premiums. Your obligation is to document shift patterns and ensure compliance with canton-specific rules.
Shift work describes any work schedule outside the typical 08:00–17:00 pattern. This includes early starts, late finishes, night shifts, rotating schedules, or split shifts. It is common in healthcare, logistics, retail, hospitality, and manufacturing across Switzerland.
The ArG (Federal Act on Work in Industry, Crafts and Commerce) sets baseline protections. Cantons add their own rules—Geneva, Zurich, and Basel-Stadt have stricter overnight-work limits than rural cantons. Your liability depends on where your office or work site is registered.
When Shift Work Rules Apply
Shift work rules activate the moment an employee's schedule deviates from the standard pattern. Even one employee on a 06:00 start or a 22:00 finish triggers ArG obligations. The law does not exempt small teams or SMEs.
If you run a production line, a 24-hour service desk, or retail with evening hours, you are managing shift work. Part-time roles with fixed off-peak hours also count. Remote workers on fixed hours do not.
- Night shifts (between 22:00 and 06:00) fall under stricter rules than early or late shifts.
- Rotating shifts demand a written schedule posted at least one week ahead.
- Single shifts outside 07:00–19:00 still require rest-period compliance.
- Holiday and weekend work is separate—treat it as a shift-work modifier, not a replacement.
- Trainees and apprentices have tighter limits on night-shift hours.
- Your canton may require a canteen or rest room for shift workers.
Your Obligations as an Employer
You must document every shift schedule in writing and give employees at least seven days' notice before changes (unless emergency or agreement exists). Record actual hours worked. The ArG requires minimum rest periods: 11 hours between end of one shift and start of the next; 1.5 days off per week.
Compensation is not always automatic. Base salary does not change. However, if a GAV (collective labour agreement) or employee contract promises a shift premium (typically 10–20% for nights), you must pay it. Cantons do not mandate a minimum premium, so check your industry standard and your written agreements.
- Post shift schedules in writing and retain them for five years.
- Ensure 11 hours rest between shifts; 15 hours after night shifts in some cantons.
- Pay any agreed shift premium or GAV allowance—do not skip it because the employee did not ask.
- Assess and manage fatigue risk; some cantons require a risk assessment for night work.
- Offer a medical check-up for employees on regular night shifts (some cantons mandate this).
- Do not require shift swaps without clear agreement on compensation.
Most Common Mistake
Employers assume shift premiums are optional or that 'everyone knows night shifts are tougher.' They are not. If your team agreement or GAV says shift work earns 15% extra, you must pay it every month. Unpaid shift premiums create wage disputes and canton labour authority complaints.
The second trap is changing shift schedules without written notice. Employees challenged on wages or rest violations will cite ArG rules. A labour court will ask: did you post the schedule? Did you give seven days' notice? Written records protect you; verbal agreements do not.
- Failing to honour agreed shift premiums—paid, documented, and on time.
- Not tracking or posting shift schedules in advance.
- Assuming small teams are exempt from rest-period rules.
- Mixing shift-work rules with holiday or on-call pay (they are separate).
- Not checking your canton's specific night-work limits.
- Forgetting to update schedules in writing when an employee moves to shifts.
Frequently asked questions
- Does a 07:30 start count as shift work?
- Yes. Any regular start before 08:00 or finish after 17:00 is shift work under ArG. You must ensure 11-hour rest to the next shift and comply with canton rest rules. The shift-premium rule depends on your contract or GAV, not the time itself.
- My employee moved from days to nights. Do I owe them more money?
- Only if your contract or your industry's GAV includes a night-shift premium. The law does not mandate extra pay; custom and written agreements do. Check your employee's contract and your sector's standard practice. If unclear, consult a labour lawyer.
- Can I ask an employee to cover a shift last-minute?
- Legally, you can ask. But if they refuse, you cannot penalize them unless the contract explicitly requires on-call or emergency cover. Unplanned shift changes are a source of disputes—avoid them where possible. Always confirm in writing, and note any agreed extra pay.
General information for Swiss employers, not legal advice. Have a lawyer confirm anything with legal consequences.