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Template & Law

Termination Letter for Household Employees - Template, Notice Periods & Protection Check

A termination sent via WhatsApp, with the wrong date, or during a protection period - and it's legally void. The employment continues, so does the obligation to pay. It happens more often than you'd think. Here are the notice periods, the pitfalls - and a generator that calculates the date automatically.

Updated: July 2026·Reading time: 8 min

Key Takeaways

  • 1Notice periods: 1 month (1st year), 2 months (2nd-9th year), 3 months (from 10th year) - always to end of month.
  • 2Probation: 7 days' notice, to any day (Art. 335b CO).
  • 3Protection periods: termination during pregnancy, illness or military service is void (Art. 336c CO).
  • 4A termination only counts once it reaches the other person - not when you send it. So: in writing, by registered mail.

Termination Letter Generator

Fill in the fields and receive a ready-made termination letter for download. The notice period is calculated automatically.

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No protection period detected. You may issue the termination - ensure the correct notice period and delivery.

Notice period (months)1 Monat auf Monatsende

Last working day (auto-calculated)

31. Oktober 2026

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[Arbeitgeber Name]
[Adresse]
[Arbeitnehmer/in]
[Adresse]
[Ort], 4. August 2026

Kündigung des Arbeitsverhältnisses

Sehr geehrte [Arbeitnehmer/in],

Hiermit kündigen wir das seit ___________ bestehende Arbeitsverhältnis ordentlich unter Einhaltung der 1-monatigen Kündigungsfrist.

Der letzte Arbeitstag ist der 31. Oktober 2026.

Bitte bestätigen Sie den Erhalt dieses Schreibens mit Ihrer Unterschrift auf der Kopie.

Freundliche Grüsse

Arbeitgeber/in
Empfangsbestätigung

Nächster Schritt

Clino erstellt die Schlussabrechnung inkl. Restferien, Pro-Rata 13er und meldet bei der AHV ab.

CHF 19.90/Monat · 30 Tage gratis · clino.ch

OR Art. 335-336cIncl. protection-period warningsadmin.ch

The letter is ready - how the termination takes effect

A PDF in your downloads folder terminates nothing. The notice period starts when the letter arrives.

  1. 1Sign it by hand: print the letter and sign it yourself. An unsigned PDF sent by e-mail is hard to prove in a dispute.
  2. 2Send it by registered mail: the period starts on receipt, not on sending. With registered mail the collection day counts, or the end of the 7-day collection window. Leave a few days of buffer so the end date holds.
  3. 3Keep a copy and the receipt: keep a signed copy plus the registered-mail receipt. Your employee gets the original; without your receipt you cannot prove delivery.
  4. 4Prepare the reference and the final payslip: by the last working day you owe the work reference (Art. 330a CO), payment of the remaining holiday balance and the pro-rata 13th salary if agreed.

Mandatory details

Both names and addresses, the date of the letter, the last working day set to a month end, and your signature. A reason for the termination is not required.

Most common mistake

Sending the termination by WhatsApp or e-mail and never being able to prove it arrived. The employment - and the duty to pay wages - simply continues.

Unsure about the deadline? Notice period calculator with protection-period check

Statutory Notice Periods (Art. 335a-335c CO)

For employment in private households, the general Code of Obligations periods apply - unless the employment contract provides otherwise:

1

1st year of service

1 month to end of month

2

2nd-9th year of service

2 months to end of month

3

From 10th year of service

3 months to end of month

Probezeit: During probation (first 1-3 months): 7 days' notice, to any day (Art. 335b CO).

Protection Periods - When You CANNOT Terminate (Art. 336c CO)

Swiss labour law protects employees in certain life situations from termination. During these 'protection periods', a termination by the employer is void:

Pregnancy

During the entire pregnancy and until 16 weeks after birth, the employer may not terminate.

Illness / Accident

1st year of service: 30 days. 2nd-5th year: 90 days. From 6th year: 180 days.

Military service

During mandatory military, civil or civil protection service; if the service lasts more than 11 days, additionally 4 weeks before and after (Art. 336c para. 1 let. a CO).

Art. 336c OR

A termination during a protection period is void - it has no effect, as if it were never issued (Art. 336c CO). It must be reissued after the protection period has ended.

WhatsApp: Heads-up before the formal letter

Maria

online

Hi Maria, I need to share something important. I've decided to end the employment. You'll receive the formal termination letter by post in the next few days, but I wanted to tell you personally first.

14:00

Thank you for telling me in person. I appreciate that. Does the normal notice period apply?

14:15

Yes, exactly - one month as per the contract. I want to sincerely thank you for your great work. If you ever need a reference, just let me know.

14:18
Message

Sample: a correct termination letter

This is what a legally sound termination letter looks like. Keep the structure and swap the names, dates and notice period - or let the generator above create it with the date calculated automatically.

Ordinary termination · employer · 1 monthArt. 335c CO
Brunner family, Musterstrasse 1, 8002 Zurich Ms Ana Costa Beispielweg 4, 8003 Zurich Zurich, 15 June 2026 Termination of the employment relationship Dear Ms Costa I hereby terminate our employment relationship in the ordinary way and within the notice period, effective 31 July 2026. Your last working day is therefore 31 July 2026. Thank you sincerely for your reliable work. I will of course provide a work reference, and I am happy to add a personal recommendation. Kind regards [Signature] The Brunner family

The end date (here 31 July) must fall on a month-end - the generator works it out automatically.

The 4 Most Common Termination Mistakes

1

Termination not to end of month

The statutory period always ends at the end of a month. A termination 'as of the 15th' is ineffective - it automatically shifts to the next month-end.

2

Notice period too short

Miscalculating the period means the termination only takes effect at the next possible date. Example: 2nd year of service = 2 months, not 1 month.

3

Only verbal termination

A verbal termination is legally valid - but practically impossible to prove in a dispute. Always terminate in writing, by registered mail or with a signed confirmation of receipt.

4

Termination during protection period

Terminating during pregnancy, illness or military service is void - the termination must be repeated after the protection period ends.

Handle termination correctly

Clino automatically calculates the notice period and prepares the reference letter and the final payslip with all payouts (holiday pay, pro-rata 13th salary).

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does the termination have to be in writing?
No, a verbal termination is fundamentally valid in Switzerland. However, in a dispute you must prove that and when the termination was issued. Therefore always in writing by registered mail - or in person with a signed confirmation of receipt.
When does the notice period start?
As soon as the other person receives it - not when you send it. With registered mail, that's the day the letter is collected (or the 7-day collection window ends). Tip: allow a few days' buffer so the deadline is safely met.
Can I terminate without notice during probation?
No. Even during probation, a 7-day notice period applies (Art. 335b CO). Immediate termination is only permitted for 'important reasons' under Art. 337 CO - e.g., theft or serious breach of duty.
What happens if my household employee falls ill during the notice period?
The notice period pauses for the duration of the illness and continues afterwards (Art. 336c para. 2 CO). The last working day moves to the next month-end. In short: illness extends the notice period but does not cancel the termination.
Do I have to state the reason for termination?
No, in Switzerland an ordinary termination without stating a reason is possible. However, the employee may request the reason in writing. An abusive termination (e.g., due to pregnancy) can lead to compensation of up to 6 monthly salaries (Art. 336a CO).
Who keeps which copy of the letter?
The person being let go receives the signed original; you keep a signed copy plus proof of delivery (the registered-mail receipt or a signed acknowledgement). Without that proof you cannot show when the notice period started running. Keep both for five years after the employment ends (Art. 128 CO).
Can I withdraw a termination I have already given?
Only by mutual agreement. Once the termination has reached the other party it is binding and cannot be revoked unilaterally. If both sides want to continue, put it in writing: a short confirmation signed by both that the employment continues unchanged is enough.

Sources & further information

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Salvador Jovells

Salvador Jovells, founder of Clino

Verified July 2026