August 1st and Public Holidays in Switzerland: What the Law Says

August 1st, Swiss National Day, is the only public holiday recognized at the federal level across Switzerland. By law, it is treated like a Sunday, meaning that work is generally prohibited, except with official authorization. Each canton may also designate its own additional holidays.

• Work prohibited (with exceptions)

According to Article 20a of the Labour Act, work is not allowed on August 1st, unless specifically authorized. Some businesses (e.g., hospitals, public transport, restaurants) are exempt from this rule.

• Paid day off

August 1st must be paid to all employees, regardless of their wage type (hourly, monthly, piecework, etc.), as long as it falls on a normal working day. For example, a cleaning lady who works every Tuesday must be paid if August 1st falls on a Tuesday.

 If the holiday falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or usual day off, there is no right to compensation.

 For cantonal holidays, payment is not guaranteed. It depends on the employment contract, collective agreements, and wage system.

• Holidays during vacation

If a public holiday occurs during an employee’s vacation, it is not deducted from their annual leave balance. So, if August 1st falls during vacation, it does not count as a vacation day.

 This protects employees from losing vacation time due to public holidays.

• Illness and holidays

If an employee is ill on a public holiday, no compensation is due. Compensation applies only if sick during paid vacation.

• Intercantonal work situations

If the employee works in a canton different from the company headquarters, the holiday calendar of the workplace applies. For employees working in multiple cantons, the situation becomes more complex.