Vacation Calculator for Domestic Workers 2026
Calculate vacation entitlement, surcharge and cash value in seconds - for employers and household workers.
Your inputs
Under 20: min. 5 weeks (some cantonal NAV grant more from 50)
Years in current employment
100% = full-time (42h/week)
Legal minimum: 4 weeks
Unused vacation days from previous year
12 = full year
Result
2026Vacation days per year
Your year at a glance
52 weeks per year
Vacation surcharge (hourly)
Monthly overview
Cash value of vacation
Not recommended. Vacation must be taken, not paid out (CO Art. 329d).
Employer cost planning
Clino tracks vacation automatically
Entitlement, payslips, annual report - Clino handles it. CHF 19.90/month, 30 days free.
Plan vacation early to avoid staffing gaps. For hourly workers, the surcharge is paid monthly and must appear separately on the payslip.
CO-compliant · NAV-aware · Free
Based on CO Art. 329a-d · NAV Domestic Work · Swiss labour law 2026
You have the number - now make it count
The entitlement is calculated. For it to actually reach your employee, it has to show up in three places.
- 1Put it in the employment contract: record the holiday weeks per year and the supplement rate in writing. Without a clause, the statutory minimum applies in a dispute: four weeks, five under 20. Some cantonal NAV also grant five from age 50.
- 2Show it on every payslip: with an hourly wage the holiday supplement belongs on the payslip as its own line (8.33% for four weeks, 10.64% for five). An amount hidden inside the hourly rate counts as unpaid.
- 3Log the days as they are taken: write down every holiday day. At year end you see the remaining balance; when the employment ends you know immediately what is still owed.
- 4Let the holiday be taken, not just paid: the supplement does not replace actual time off (Art. 329d para. 2 CO). Your employee is entitled to paid days off regardless of the supplement.
Mandatory details
Holiday weeks and supplement rate in the contract, the supplement as its own line on every payslip, and a running record of the days taken.
Most common mistake
"Holiday is included in the hourly rate" without showing the supplement separately in the contract and on the payslip. The Federal Supreme Court requires both - without them the supplement has to be paid again.
Legal Basis
Vacation entitlements for domestic workers in Switzerland are regulated by the Code of Obligations (OR Art. 329a) and the NAV Domestic Work regulations. The key rules:
Minimum entitlement by age
| Age | Vacation weeks | Vacation surcharge |
|---|---|---|
| Under 20 years | 5 weeks (25 days) | 10.64% |
| 20 - 49 years | 4 weeks (20 days) | 8.33% |
| 50 years and over | 5 weeks (25 days) | 10.64% |
The vacation surcharge compensates vacation days financially and is paid monthly as a percentage on top of the base hourly wage. The percentage calculations:
- ✓4 weeks: 4 ÷ (52 − 4) = 8.33%
- ✓5 weeks: 5 ÷ (52 − 5) = 10.64%
- ✓6 weeks: 6 ÷ (52 − 6) = 13.04%
The exact calculation and how to show it correctly on the payslip are explained in our guide to holiday compensation on an hourly wage.
These rates are NAV minimum standards. The employment contract may provide more generous terms but never less than the statutory minimums. More on the NAV in our NAV Domestic Work Guide.
Common Mistakes with the Vacation Surcharge
Vacation surcharge not shown separately
The surcharge must appear as a separate line item on every payslip - even if it is included in the hourly wage.
Wrong percentage for the age group
Under 20 and from 50 years, 5 weeks (10.64%) apply, not 4 weeks. The adjustment is often forgotten when the worker turns 50.
Simply 'paying out' vacation instead of taking it
The vacation surcharge does not replace actual vacation days. The domestic worker is still entitled to paid time off despite the surcharge.
Reducing vacation due to illness without legal basis
Vacation may only be reduced for absences exceeding one month per year of service (OR Art. 329b).
Avoid these mistakes with a correct payslip. Our Payslip Generator calculates the vacation surcharge automatically. Or have the employment contract set up correctly from the start.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many vacation weeks is a domestic worker entitled to?▾
How do I calculate the vacation surcharge on the hourly wage?▾
Must the vacation surcharge be paid every month?▾
Can I reduce vacation during the probation period?▾
Can I include the vacation surcharge in the hourly wage?▾
When does untaken holiday entitlement lapse?▾
What happens to holiday when the employment ends?▾
Further Guides
NAV Domestic Work Explained
Minimum wages, vacation, obligations 2026
Employment Contract Template
Free template ready to copy
Payslip Generator
Correct payslip with vacation surcharge in 2 minutes
What Does a Domestic Worker Cost?
Hourly wages, additional costs, reality check
Register Your Cleaner in 5 Steps
AHV registration, insurance, process
Minimum Wage for Cleaners 2026
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