Care
What applies when home care suddenly ends
Hospital, care home or death: wages, her room, who signs and what to report, with your date.
What applies now?
What happened?
Contract and day of notice
A hospital stay does not end a carer's contract: wages keep running. Under federal law a move to a care home does not end it either, though some cantonal default contracts say otherwise. If the person who was the employer dies, the contract usually ends with the death; otherwise it passes to the heirs. Either way, plan for now on money up to the ordinary notice date.
If someone has just died: most of this can wait a few days. Only two things are urgent: the carer knows where she stands, and nobody signs anything final. Close to a month end, giving notice can be pressing too.
Your timeline
What this calculation assumes
- Notice: we cautiously use the longer of your canton's NAV and the OR. That is our planning figure, not a rule of law. A period in your contract takes precedence.
- She is not ill, injured or pregnant. Otherwise the period may be interrupted or the notice void (Art. 336c OR).
- Contract and canton can change the result. This is orientation, not legal advice. If there is a dispute or a large sum, ask a professional.
Four cases at a glance
Hospital or rehab
Does the contract end?
No
What you owe
Wages for as long as the contract runs
Who acts
The person or their representative
Move to a care home
Does the contract end?
No, unless a cantonal default says so and your contract does not
What you owe
Wages until the notice period ends
Who acts
The person or their representative
Death, she herself was the employer
Does the contract end?
Usually ends with the death (Art. 338a para. 2 OR), otherwise passes to the heirs
What you owe
Wages from the heirs or reasonable compensation
Who acts
The heirs together, or the executor
Death, relatives are the employer
Does the contract end?
No, it continues with them
What you owe
Wages until the notice period ends
Who acts
Whoever signed the contract
Hospital or rehab: wages keep running
An employer who cannot take up the work still pays (Art. 324 OR). That also holds when the reason is illness and nobody is at fault. A clause saying "no wages during absence" does not help: Art. 362 OR forbids derogating to her disadvantage.
Helplessness allowance
It continues. It stops only for each full calendar month in hospital at the expense of social insurance.
Supplementary benefits
For up to 3 months the person still counts as living at home. If it lasts longer, they are calculated from admission as for a home or hospital.
IV assistance contribution
The IV covers wages for at most 3 months per event. According to its circular, the duty to pay wages has no such limit in this case, and the insured person can give notice.
Amounts and how to apply are in the post on the helplessness allowance.
The cantons of GE and NE state expressly that wages and maintenance continue during absence.
Care home: notice with the normal period
Under federal law the move does not end the contract by itself: Art. 338a OR only speaks of death. Some cantonal default contracts say otherwise, see below. You give ordinary notice: the notice calculator works out the end date. The period runs to a month end, and one day late usually costs one more month.
Garden leave
You may do without her work. Wages keep running. New earnings are generally set off, unless you waive that (BGE 118 II 139).
Unused holidays
They generally fall into the garden leave if enough time remains for the job search. Otherwise you pay them out.
If she falls ill
After probation, the carer's illness or accident stops the period: 30, 90 or 180 days depending on the year of service (Art. 336c OR). Illness in the family, or of the person cared for, stops nothing.
The template for the termination letter creates one with the period worked out; a shorter one is below. What is left to do at the end is in the guide to giving notice.
Death: Art. 338a OR has two paths
Death does not automatically end an employment. It passes to the heirs, unless it was entered into essentially with regard to the employer as a person: then it ends, and the carer can claim reasonable compensation. That is usually so when caring for one particular person. If a relative was the employer, nothing changes legally: the contract continues with that relative.
What the law says
Para. 1: transfer to the heirs; she can refuse it, and the job then ends after the statutory period (Art. 333 OR). Para. 2: end with the death and reasonable compensation for the damage from the early end. A contract may not change this to her disadvantage (Art. 362 OR).
What happens in practice
The former Federal Insurance Court expressly places carers for one particular person under para. 2 (C 329/00). The Federal Supreme Court proceeded from an end with the death for a live-in governess, as does SECO in its commentary on the model NAV. The IV circular on the assistance contribution counts wages until the ordinary notice period expires.
What is open
The law does not say when a contract is entered into "essentially" with regard to a person. In a dispute a court decides, not an authority. If a spouse goes on living in the household and also needs help, we read that as pointing to a transfer; we found no decision on it. The amount of compensation also depends on the case.
Six days after the death a governess signed a receipt for CHF 20'000 net, "pour solde de tous comptes". The court did not accept it: in the protected month after the contract ends she cannot simply waive. The heiresses were ordered jointly and severally to pay CHF 29'087 gross, less what had been paid. That included compensation, holidays, public holidays and night on-call.
BGer 4A_96/2017Who pays, and what if nobody wants to inherit
The heirs
Debts become their personal debts, and they are jointly and severally liable (Art. 560 and 603 ZGB). So any heir can be pursued for the whole amount.
Renouncing
Within 3 months at the competent authority at the last domicile (Art. 567 and 570 ZGB). Until then only administer: do not sell, give away or take anything (Art. 571 ZGB), and ask before larger payments if the estate could be over-indebted.
Everyone renounces
Then the bankruptcy office liquidates (Art. 573 ZGB). The carer files her claim there. Wages from the last 6 months rank in the first class, up to a ceiling (Art. 219 SchKG).
If the carer dies
The contract ends with her death. If she leaves a spouse, registered partner, minor children or, failing them, others she supported, you owe 1 month's further wage from the date of death, and 2 months after five years of service (Art. 338 OR).
What your canton sets as the default
In these cantons the standard employment contract (NAV) has its own sentence. It applies only if your contract says nothing else (Art. 360 OR). The care contract from Clino does say something else: the ordinary period for a home, Art. 338a OR for a death.
Open
Art. 335c OR requires at least one month's notice, and Art. 362 OR protects Art. 338a OR. Whether a NAV can still end the contract at once or after 30 days: we found no decision on this. Plan with the later date until someone has looked at your case.
Show all cantons with their own clause
Zurich
Death or home
Ends at once, moves out within 5 days
Room
No sentence of its own found
Read the text
Art. 18: «Ebenso endet es mit dem Tod oder dem Heimeintritt des Arbeitgebers. […] Im Todesfall oder bei einem Heimeintritt des Arbeitgebers verlässt der Arbeitnehmer die Stelle innerhalb von fünf Tagen nach dem Ereignis.»
NAV ZHBasel-Stadt
Death or home
Ends at once, one month's wage as compensation
Room
Tenancy law, notice on the official form
Read the text
§ 14: «Bei 24-Stunden-Betreuungsverhältnissen erlischt das Arbeitsverhältnis mit dem Tod oder Heimeintritt der zu betreuenden Person. Arbeitnehmende haben Anspruch auf eine Entschädigung in der Höhe dessen, was sie während eines Monats an Lohn erhalten hätten. Beim Tod der zu betreuenden Person richtet sich der Anspruch gegen die Erbschaft. Übersteigt der infolge vorzeitiger Beendigung des Arbeitsverhältnisses erwachsene Schaden die Entschädigung gemäss Abs. 2, so kann angemessener Ersatz verlangt werden.»
§ 15: «Stellen die Arbeitgebenden den Arbeitnehmenden eine Unterkunft zur Verfügung, so sind für die Kündigung die Vorschriften zum Mietrecht (Art. 266 ff. OR) einzuhalten.»
NAV Haushalt BSZug
Death or home
Ends at once, one month's wage as compensation
Room
Flat ends with the contract
Read the text
§ 4 Abs. 5: «Im Fall einer 24-Stunden-Betreuung erlischt das ungekündigte Arbeitsverhältnis mit dem Tod oder Heimeintritt der zu betreuenden Person. Die arbeitnehmende Person hat Anspruch auf eine Entschädigung in der Höhe dessen, was sie während eines Monats an Lohn erhalten hätte. Beim Tod der zu betreuenden Person besteht der Anspruch gegenüber dem Nachlass.»
§ 4 Abs. 4: «Wird der arbeitnehmenden Person von der arbeitgebenden Person eine Wohnung überlassen, so erlischt mit der Auflösung des Arbeitsverhältnisses auch das Recht auf die Benützung der Wohnung.»
NAV Privathaushalt ZGAargau
Death or home
Ends after 30 days
Room
No sentence of its own found
Read the text
§ 42: «Bei Tod oder Heimeinweisung der betreuten Person endet das angetretene Arbeitsverhältnis 30 Tage nach dem betreffenden Ereignis. Vorbehalten bleibt eine ordentliche Kündigung gemäss den vertraglichen Bestimmungen.»
NAV Hauspersonal AGSolothurn
Death or home
Ends after 30 days
Room
At least 2 weeks' notice
Read the text
§ 25: «Für Arbeitnehmer oder Arbeitnehmerinnen, die angestellt sind, um Betreuungsaufgaben zu erfüllen und in Hausgemeinschaft mit der betreuten Person leben, endet das angetretene Arbeitsverhältnis bei Tod oder Heimeinweisung der betreuten Person nach 30 Tagen seit diesem Ereignis.»
§ 27 Abs. 2: «Ohne andere Abrede endet der Anspruch auf das eigene Zimmer mit Ablauf des Arbeitsverhältnisses. Die Kündigungsfrist für das Zimmer beträgt jedoch mindestens zwei Wochen.»
NAV Hauswirtschaft SOUri
Death or home
Ends after 30 days
Room
Flat ends with the contract
Read the text
Art. 28p Abs. 4: «Beim Tod oder einer Heimeinweisung der zu betreuenden Person erlischt das Arbeitsverhältnis nach 30 Tagen seit diesem Ereignis.»
Art. 5 Abs. 3: «Wird dem Arbeitnehmer vom Arbeitgeber eine möblierte Wohnung überlassen, so erlischt mit der Auflösung des Arbeitsverhältnisses auch das Recht auf die Benützung der Wohnung.»
NAV URGlarus
Death or home
Ends after 30 days at the earliest
Room
No sentence of its own found
Read the text
Art. 19 Abs. 4: «Beim Tod oder einer Heimeinweisung der zu betreuenden Person endet das angetretene Arbeitsverhältnis frühestens 30 Tage nach diesem Ereignis.»
NAV HW GLLucerne
Death or home
Ends after 30 days at the earliest
Also applies on admission to hospital.
Room
Ends with the contract
Read the text
§ 35: «Bei Tod oder Eintritt in ein Heim oder Spital der in Hausgemeinschaft betreuten Person kann das Arbeitsverhältnis frühestens 30 Tage nach diesem Ereignis aufgelöst werden.»
§ 34 Abs. 2: «Ohne abweichende Abreden endet der Anspruch auf das eigene Zimmer mit Ablauf des Arbeitsverhältnisses.»
NAV LUNidwalden
Death or home
Ends after 30 days at the earliest
Room
Flat ends with the contract
Read the text
§ 28 Abs. 3: «Beim Tod oder einer Heimeinweisung der zu betreuenden Person endet das angetretene Arbeitsverhältnis frühestens nach 30 Tagen seit Eintritt dieses Ereignisses beziehungsweise nach Ablauf der Befristung.»
§ 28 Abs. 4: «Wird der arbeitnehmenden Person von der arbeitgebenden Person eine Wohnung überlassen, so erlischt mit der Auflösung des Arbeitsverhältnisses auch das Recht auf die Benützung der Wohnung.»
NAV NWSchaffhausen
Death or home
Ends after 30 days at the earliest
Room
Ends with the contract
Read the text
§ 56: «Für Arbeitnehmende, die angestellt sind, um Betreuungsaufgaben zu erfüllen und die in Hausgemeinschaft mit der betreuten Person leben, kann bei Tod oder einer Heimeinweisung der betreuten Person das angetretene Arbeitsverhältnis nach frühestens 30 Tagen seit diesem Ereignis aufgelöst werden.»
§ 23 Abs. 3: «Ohne eine anderslautende Abrede endet der Anspruch auf das Einzelzimmer mit Ablauf des Arbeitsverhältnisses.»
NAV HW SHSchwyz
Death or home
Ends after 30 days at the earliest
Room
No sentence of its own found
Read the text
§ 19 Abs. 3: «Beim Tod oder einer Heimeinweisung der zu betreuenden Person endet das angetretene Arbeitsverhältnis frühestens nach 30 Tagen seit diesem Ereignis.»
NAV SZTicino
Death or home
Ends after 30 days at the earliest
Room
No sentence of its own found
Read the text
art. 10 cpv. 3: «In caso di decesso o di un collocamento in un istituto della persona assistita 24 ore su 24, il rapporto di lavoro iniziato può essere sciolto al più presto dopo 30 giorni dall'evento.»
CNL TIAppenzell Ausserrhoden
Death or home
Ends at the end of the next month at the earliest
Room
No sentence of its own found
Read the text
Art. 35 Abs. 2: «Wird die zu betreuende Person dauerhaft in ein Heim oder eine ähnliche Einrichtung eingewiesen oder stirbt die zu betreuende Person, kann das angetretene Arbeitsverhältnis von Arbeitnehmern oder Arbeitnehmerinnen, die zur Erfüllung ihrer Arbeitsleistungen im gleichen Haushalt wohnen, frühestens auf Ende des nächsten Kalendermonats aufgelöst werden.»
NAV ARBasel-Landschaft
Death or home
On the employer's death: passes to the heirs
Room
No sentence of its own found
Read the text
§ 30 Abs. 2: «Mit dem Tod der Arbeitgeberschaft geht das Arbeitsverhältnis auf deren Erben über.»
NAV Hauspersonal BLBern
Death or home
No sentence of its own
Room
At least 2 weeks' notice
Read the text
Art. 12: «Ist mit dem Arbeitsvertrag ein Mietvertrag über eine Unterkunft verbunden, gilt der Mietvertrag auf den gleichen Zeitpunkt wie die Kündigung des Arbeitsverhältnisses als aufgelöst. Die Kündigungsfrist beträgt jedoch für ein Einzelzimmer mindestens zwei Wochen, für eine Wohnung mindestens drei Monate.»
NAV BEGeneva
Death or home
No sentence of its own
Room
At the latest the day after the contract ends
Read the text
art. 11 al. 4: «La chambre est un logement de fonction. Elle sera évacuée au plus tard le lendemain de la fin des rapports de travail.»
art. 12: «En cas d'absence de l'employeur, le travailleur a droit à son salaire en espèces et en nature ; à sa demande, l'employeur lui verse une indemnité de nourriture calculée au minimum selon les normes AVS en vigueur.»
CTT-EDomNeuchâtel
Death or home
No sentence of its own
Room
No sentence of its own found
Read the text
art. 11: «En l'absence de l'employeur, la travailleuse ou le travailleur a droit à son salaire et à son entretien.»
CTT NENo sentence on death or a home in: AI, FR, GR, JU, OW, SG, TG, VD, VS. The Vaud contract repeats Art. 338a OR. What counts is the canton where she works.
The room
What the law says
Board and lodging are wages (Art. 322 OR), so the room depends on the employment contract. In mixed contracts the predominant part, measured by the higher money value, decides how notice works (BGer 4A_102/2013, a caretaker). For a carer the work predominates, so tenancy law probably does not apply. Basel-Stadt, by contrast, expressly requires the tenancy rules (§ 15 NAV).
What happens in practice
The cantons differ, see the table. As long as the contract runs she keeps the room. If you do not give it to her, you owe its value: AHV counts board and lodging at CHF 990 a month.
What is open
No federal law names a number of days to move out. The Confederation points out that her right to live there, and her residence, can hang on the job. Do not change a lock or clear anything while she lives there without getting advice first.
Who signs
As long as the person can still decide, she signs. If she no longer can, read: Who signs when your parent no longer can. In short: an advance care directive with a KESB document, otherwise a deputyship.
After the death
- Heirs act together, unless someone has been appointed (Art. 602 ZGB). Proof: certificate of inheritance (Art. 559 ZGB).
- An executor administers the estate and pays the debts (Art. 518 ZGB).
- A deputyship ends with the death (Art. 399 ZGB). If administration of the estate is ordered and the deputyship covered the assets, the deputy usually takes it on (Art. 554 ZGB).
What to report where
Compensation office
Departure and wages. Heirs are liable for contributions owed during the person's lifetime.
By when
30 days after the year end with annual accounting
Accident insurer
Departure, wage total, and telling her about the extension insurance
By when
With the last wage, so she knows before the 31st day
Daily sickness benefit, if any
Departure. Ask about transfer to individual cover.
By when
The policy names the deadline
Pension fund, if insured
Departure
By when
With the last wage
Tax office, only with withholding tax
Accounts up to the last wage, confirmation to her (Art. 88 DBG)
By when
With the next statement
Salary statement
To her, for the current year (Art. 127 DBG)
By when
With the final pay
Helplessness allowance and supplementary benefits
Report the move or the death (Art. 31 ATSG)
By when
As soon as you can
More on the salary statement in a household.
Put this on the table
Whoever takes this on needs these papers.
Letters to copy
For this case: Hospital or rehab. Replace the square brackets. Dates come from your timeline above. Write to offices and insurers in their official language.
Dear [Name] [My mother / My father] has been in hospital since [date]. We do not yet know for how long. Your employment continues unchanged and your wages will be paid as usual. You do not have to make up this time. During these days we ask you to do the following: [for example post and plants, hospital visits, or: you have time off]. As soon as we know more, we will tell you. For questions you can reach [name, telephone]. Thank you for everything you do. [Place, date] [Signature of the employer or of the authorised representative]
Where to get advice
Free and confidential for older people and those close to them, also on provision and estates. Infoline 058 591 15 15.
The AHV leaflet on domestic work names them as the place for employment law questions. Proceedings are free of court costs up to CHF 30'000.
Estates authority at the last domicile
For renunciation, inventory and certificate of inheritance. For a large sum or an unclear estate: a notary or a law firm.
Common questions
Can we order her to take holidays during the hospital stay?
The employer sets the timing of holidays but takes her wishes into account (Art. 329c OR). Backdated or overnight does not work well. Talk it through and put it in writing.
Can we just end everything at once after the death?
Dismissal without notice needs good cause (Art. 337 OR), and a death is not one. If the contract ends under Art. 338a para. 2 OR, you owe reasonable compensation. An agreement is possible, but in the month after the contract ends it holds only with real concessions on both sides.
What if the estate is over-indebted?
Then the heirs can renounce within 3 months and are in principle not liable for the debts. If all nearest heirs renounce, the bankruptcy office liquidates. If in doubt: request a public inventory within one month. Before paying from the estate, check what still counts as administration.
Is the carer entitled to a long-service payment?
Only if she is at least 50 and has at least 20 years of service (Art. 339b OR). Then two to eight months' wages, and a court can reduce the amount if it would put you in hardship (Art. 339c OR). Some NAVs name their own amounts.
If you already do your payroll with Clino: under "[Name] is leaving" in the dashboard you choose the last day, create the last payslip and download the exit papers. The dashboard has no separate case for a death.
If you are the carer
This job is often also your home. This is what you are owed:
Money
Wages until the period ends or reasonable compensation, plus unused holidays, overtime with a quarter's supplement unless agreed otherwise, and, if agreed or in the NAV, a share of the 13th month. Claims lapse after 5 years.
Do not sign in a hurry
A signature "in full settlement" shortly after the death often does not bind you, but read it through with someone first anyway. Proceedings are free of court costs up to CHF 30'000 (Art. 113 and 114 ZPO).
RAV
Register as early as you can, even during the notice period, online or in person, and at the latest on the first day you want money for. If the family does not pay, the fund can advance it and take over the claim (Art. 29 AVIG).
Accident and health insurance
Accident cover ends on the 31st day after the last wage. Extension insurance prolongs it by up to 6 months: take it out before it ends. Also tell your health insurer the job is ending, so that it covers accidents again (Art. 8 and 10 KVG).
Permit
EU/EFTA with an L or B permit: the right of residence generally lapses 6 months after the involuntary end of the job, later while unemployment benefit is paid (Art. 61a AIG). This does not affect a C permit. Other nationals should ask the migration office right away.
Reference and room
You can ask for your work reference at any time. Ask for the date for your room in writing too.
Advice: the secretariats of the labour courts generally give information, and Unia advises its members.
For your next job, see the page on finding work. If you work less for now, read about interim earnings at the RAV. More on your rights as a carer.
Sources
- OR: Art. 322 to 324a, 329c, 329d, 330a, 335 to 339d, 341, 360, 362 (Fedlex)
- ZGB: Art. 399, 416, 518, 554, 559, 560, 566 to 573, 580, 602, 603 (Fedlex)
- BGer 4A_96/2017 of 14.12.2017: death of the employer, receipt, Art. 338a and 341 OR
- BGer 4A_102/2013 of 17.10.2013: mixed contract, predominant element
- BGE 118 II 139: set-off during garden leave
- Circular on the assistance contribution, para. 3029 to 3036 (FSIO)
- ATSG Art. 31 and 67, AHVG Art. 43bis, IVG Art. 42ter, IVV Art. 39h (Fedlex)
- ELG Art. 10 and 14 (Fedlex)
- UVG Art. 3, UVV Art. 7, 8, 72 and KVG Art. 8, 10 (Fedlex)
- BVG Art. 10 (Fedlex)
- AVIG Art. 11, 17, 29 and arbeit.swiss: registering with the RAV
- AIG Art. 61a (Fedlex)
- SchKG Art. 193 and 219, ZPO Art. 113 and 114 (Fedlex)
- DBG Art. 88 and 127, AHVV Art. 34, 36, 43 (Fedlex)
- AHV leaflet 2.06, domestic work (as of 1.1.2026)
- SECO model NAV for live-in care, with commentary
- Zurich courts: garden leave
- Pro Senectute: advice
- BGer (former EVG) C 329/00 of 20.2.2001: carer for one particular person, Art. 338a para. 2 OR
Checked on 4 November 2026. The NAV sentences are in the table in their original wording, with a link. This page is not legal advice.