Year-end bonus for domestic staff - voluntary or obligatory?
In short: you may, but you don't have to. If the bonus becomes a habit it can turn into an obligation - and it is always subject to AHV.
Your questions, answered in 10 seconds
Do I have to pay one?
No. A gratuity is voluntary.
Can it become obligatory?
Yes - after 3 years without a «voluntary» note.
AHV & taxes?
Yes, always. It runs through the payslip.
On departure?
Pro rata only if agreed.
How a bonus turns into an obligation
Year 1
Voluntary bonus
Year 2
Paid again
Year 3
Becomes a claim
Your stop button: note «voluntary» in writing every time. Then it stays voluntary as a rule - even with repeated payments.
One sentence protects you
Add this note to every payslip that includes a bonus:
«This gratuity is paid voluntarily and on a one-off basis. Even if repeated, it creates no claim for the future.»
Saying it - the relaxed way
A bonus is a kind gesture - and quick to say. Here's how your message could sound (you can copy it directly):
Message to your household helper
Maria
online
Happy holidays and thank you for a lovely year! 🎄
14:02You too, Maria! As a thank-you there's CHF 200 extra this month. 😊
14:05Oh, that's kind - thank you so much!
14:07My pleasure! I'll record it as a voluntary gratuity on the payslip.
14:09The little word «voluntary» on the payslip protects you from a permanent entitlement - and the amount stays correctly settled through the AHV.
Three types - only one is truly voluntary
Genuine gratuity
Entirely your call. No claim.
Imperfect gratuity
Grown over the years. Claim in principle.
13th-month salary / fixed bonus
Firmly agreed = wage. Always owed.
The 13th-month salary follows its own rules - briefly explained in the glossary.
Gift or wage?
The rule of thumb is simple:
Flowers or a small present. Modest value, in kind.
Cash to thank for the work. Belongs on the payslip.
Careful: a cash bonus that isn't declared is undeclared work on that amount - with the same risks as an unregistered wage.
Marked voluntary and run through payroll - that's how you stay generous, with zero risk.
Without a «voluntary» note
- •After 3 years the payment becomes obligatory
- •Claim even in a bad year
- •Disputes on termination more likely
With a «voluntary» note
- •Every payment stays voluntary
- •You decide afresh each year
- •Clear position for both sides
Settle the bonus correctly
The gratuity is part of the wage. It runs through the household payslip - just like the AHV registration. Clino handles both automatically.
And if they leave mid-year?
You only owe a pro-rata gratuity if you agreed it in the employment contract (OR Art. 322d para. 2). For the 13th-month salary it is always owed. How long your helper still stays is shown by the notice-period calculator.
Calculate the pro-rata 13th salary
For an agreed 13th-month salary: enter the monthly wage and months worked — you see the pro-rata amount.
Applies only if a 13th-month salary was agreed; pro-rata on mid-year departure. A discretionary bonus with no agreement is not owed.
How to do it right
Note «voluntary»
One sentence on the payslip is enough.
Run it through payroll
The bonus is AHV-liable - Clino does this automatically.
Stay generous
No risk, no commitment for the future.
Clino produces the payslip and AHV statement including special payments - for CHF 19.90 a month.
Start for free nowFrequently asked questions
Do I have to pay my cleaner a gratuity?
No. A genuine gratuity is voluntary - you decide whether and how much. It only becomes obligatory if you pay it three years in a row without a voluntariness reservation, or if a fixed bonus or 13th-month salary is agreed.
Is the gratuity subject to AHV?
Yes. A gratuity paid in money is part of the determining wage and runs through the payslip like the rest of the wage - including all social-insurance contributions.
How do I stop it from becoming an obligation?
Note in writing with every payment that it is voluntary and creates no future entitlement. A short sentence on the payslip is enough - the 3-year rule then generally does not apply. Only after very many years of identical payments might a court treat the reservation as an empty formula.
Difference between a gratuity and the 13th-month salary?
The 13th-month salary is a fixed wage component: once agreed, always owed and paid pro rata on departure. The gratuity is voluntary - until repeated payment without reservation creates a claim.
Do I have to pay pro rata if they leave mid-year?
Only if a pro-rata payment was agreed (OR Art. 322d para. 2). Otherwise there is no claim when someone leaves before the payout date. For the 13th-month salary, by contrast, it is always owed.
Related reading
Wages and bonus without the paperwork
Clino produces the employment contract, payslip and AHV statement for your household helper - special payments included. For CHF 19.90 a month.
Start for free nowLegal notice: This article provides general information and does not replace legal advice. The Swiss Code of Obligations (OR), in particular Art. 322d, and the relevant social-insurance provisions are decisive.
