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Insurance & Risk

Your cleaner has an accident with no insurance: you can owe 5 years of premiums

Salvador Jovells

Woman sitting on the sofa with a bandaged knee and a green blanket, a mug and some papers beside her
If your cleaner has an accident without insurance, the Ersatzkasse UVG pays and then claims up to 5 years of premiums from you.

What happens if your cleaner falls off a ladder while cleaning your windows and breaks her arm? Without accident insurance (UVG), the Ersatzkasse UVG pays the statutory benefits - and then charges you substitute premiums, up to 5 years back, doubled if the omission is inexcusable, up to ten times for repeat failures (Art. 95 UVG). This article shows exactly what you face and how to protect yourself for around CHF 100 per year.

Your cleaner climbs the ladder to clean the windows. She slips, falls, and breaks her arm and wrist. Paramedics, hospital, surgery, rehabilitation. Who pays?

In short

Without UVG accident insurance the Ersatzkasse UVG pays the benefits to your cleaner - and then charges you substitute premiums for the whole uninsured period, up to 5 years back (Art. 95 UVG).

  • Substitute premiums for the whole uninsured period, up to 5 years back - plus a penalty of up to 180 daily units if the AHV registration is missing too
  • Occupational accident insurance (BU) is mandatory from the very first hour
  • Cover costs approx. CHF 100-200 per year - retroactive insurance is not possible
See the 4 steps after an accident

What an Accident Really Costs - and Who Ends Up Paying

A fall from a ladder sounds harmless. The bill is not. The good news: medical costs, daily allowance and any pension are always paid by the accident insurer, never by you. The bad news: without a policy the Ersatzkasse UVG steps in, and then claims the premiums back from you.

Worst Case

Your cleaner suffers nerve damage to the wrist from the fall. The hand remains permanently impaired. Result: partial disability. Without UVG, the Ersatzkasse UVG pays the disability pension - and then charges you the substitute premiums: up to 5 years back, doubled if the omission is inexcusable, up to ten times for repeat failures (Art. 95 UVG).

WITH vs. WITHOUT UVG Insurance

The difference between catastrophe and minor inconvenience - for around CHF 100 per year.

Where the bill ends up

With a UVG policy

  1. Accident

  2. The insurer pays

  3. Done, for you

Without a policy

  1. Accident

  2. The Ersatzkasse UVG pays

  3. Bill to you

    Substitute premiums for up to 5 years, double if inexcusable (Art. 95 UVG)

WITHOUT UVG

  • •Substitute premiums for the entire uninsured period (Art. 95 UVG)
  • •Claimed back up to 5 years retroactively
  • •Doubled if the omission is inexcusable, up to 10 times for repeat failures
  • •Plus a penalty of up to 180 daily units without AHV registration (Art. 87 AHVG)

WITH UVG

  • •UVG insurance covers ALL medical costs
  • •Daily allowance: 80% of salary from day 3
  • •In case of disability: UVG pension (not you)
  • •Cost: approx. CHF 100-200/year
CHF 100 per year separates you from 5 years of substitute premiums, doubled if inexcusable. No other investment in your household comes close to that ratio.

Taking out the policy takes a few minutes. To see which insurer suits your household and what it costs you, use the insurer finder with premium calculator.

UVG Obligation: What You Need to Know as an Employer

The Accident Insurance Act (UVG) is mandatory for all employees in Switzerland - including cleaners in private households. Anyone who fails to take out UVG insurance owes the Ersatzkasse UVG substitute premiums for the whole uninsured period (Art. 95 UVG).

ONE FALL · TWO BILLS

Registered AND insured?

With no policy the Ersatzkasse pays: then reclaims up to 5 years of premiums from you.

Cantonal Hospital
Emergency & Surgery
NR. 2026-04471
M. S.
HOSPITAL BILL AFTER A WORKPLACE FALL
TOTAL MEDICAL COSTSCHF 0
Covered by insuranceCHF 0
What you get billedCHF 37'600

Illustrative scenario, 2026 reference values. Accident cover is mandatory from hour 1, NBU from 8 hrs/week.

CHF 148,200
Max. insured earnings
80%
Daily allowance from day 3
8h/week
NBU threshold
CHF 100-200
Annual premium

Is she also insured for accidents in her free time?

What counts is the hours per week in the same household, not the wage.

Under 8 hours: occupational accidents only. The employer pays the premium. Accidents in her free time are covered by her own health insurance. Accidents on the way to or from work then count as occupational.
Since 2025 the compensation office offers the VAVplus accident cover: it covers BU+NBU in all 26 cantons, but only if you opt in (SOLIDA)

Checklist: Is your domestic worker correctly insured?

Accident cover is only one of the insurances you owe as an employer. The insurance check for private households tells you which others apply to your domestic worker.

4 Steps After an Accident

An accident has happened. Act quickly and correctly:

1

First aid & call paramedics

Secure the accident site, provide first aid and call the ambulance (144) if needed. Document what happened with photos and notes.

2

Report the accident to your UVG insurer

Report the accident within 48 hours to your UVG insurer (e.g. VAVplus/SOLIDA). The insurer takes over coordination immediately.

3

Clarify continued salary payment

From day 3, the UVG insurer pays 80% daily allowance. You as the employer cover the first 2 days with at least 80% of the wage. Check the applicable cantonal scale.

4

Plan the return or organise a replacement

Stay in contact with your domestic worker. Clarify the expected return date and organise a temporary replacement if needed.

If the absence drags on, your domestic worker is protected against dismissal for a certain period. How long, and when disability insurance (IV) takes over, is covered in our guide to long absences.

Example: Reporting an accident via WhatsApp

Maria

online

Good morning! I'm sorry to tell you that I slipped while cleaning the bathtub this morning and injured my wrist. I'm currently in the emergency room.

08:14

Oh no! I hope it's not too serious. Please take care of yourself first. I will report the accident to our UVG insurer right away.

08:19

The doctor says it's a fracture. I'll probably need 3-4 weeks off. Do you need a medical certificate?

10:45

Yes, please send the certificate as soon as possible. UVG insurance covers from day 3. Get well soon!

10:52
Message

Protect yourself - for CHF 100/year

Clino prepares your domestic worker's registration, points you to the right UVG cover and handles the payroll. All in one subscription - so an accident does not become a financial disaster.

Get covered now →

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to insure a part-time cleaner?
Yes. Occupational accident insurance (BU) is mandatory for ALL employees - from the very first hour. Non-occupational accident insurance (NBU) becomes mandatory from 8 hours per week with one employer. Even below 8 hours, you must pay the BU premium.
What happens if an accident occurs during undeclared work?
The Ersatzkasse UVG pays the statutory benefits to your employee and charges you substitute premiums for them: for the whole uninsured period, up to 5 years back, doubled if the omission is inexcusable, up to ten times for repeat failures (Art. 95 UVG). If the AHV registration is missing too, a monetary penalty of up to 180 daily units (Art. 87 AHVG) and retroactive claims for all social insurance contributions are added.
What exactly does UVG insurance cover?
UVG covers: all medical costs (doctor, hospital, medication, physiotherapy), daily allowance (80% of insured salary from day 3), disability pension for permanent impairment, and survivor's pension in case of death. The maximum insured earnings are CHF 148,200 per year.
Who pays for the first 2 days after the accident?
You as the employer pay at least 80% of the salary (Art. 324b CO) for the first 2 days (waiting period). From day 3, the UVG insurer takes over with 80% daily allowance. This 2-day rule applies to all UVG-insured employees.
Can I take out UVG insurance retroactively?
No. Retroactive insurance is not possible. If an accident happens before you have insurance, the Ersatzkasse UVG pays - and charges you the substitute premiums. That is why you should insure from the very first working day. Via VAVplus/SOLIDA you can complete the registration online in minutes.

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Sources & further information

Learn more

Accident Insurance (UVG) for Household EmployeesRead article
VAVplus: accident insurance through the compensation officeRead article
Registering a Cleaner Retroactively: The Honest GuideRead article
Undeclared work penalties in Switzerland: employer and cleanerRead article
Salvador Jovells

Salvador Jovells, founder of Clino