Vacation Calculator for Domestic Workers 2026
Calculate vacation entitlement, surcharge and cash value in seconds - for employers and household workers.
Your inputs
Under 20 or 50+: min. 5 weeks vacation
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
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?▾
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
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Minimum Wage for Cleaners 2026
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