Sick — now what? An overview of the employer's obligation to continue paying salary under Swiss law — the Bern, Basel and Zurich scales — and the role of daily-sickness-benefit insurance.
Art. 324a CO obliges the employer to continue salary payments in case of the employee's unfault prevention from work — illness, accident, statutory duties such as military service, maternity. The amount and duration depend on years of service and the course of illness.
In the first year of service, three weeks. After that, 'an appropriate longer period' whose concrete duration is measured by the cantonal scales — the most common being the Bern, Basel and Zurich scales.
1st year of service: 3 weeks. 2nd year: 1 month. 3rd-4th year: 2 months. 5th-9th year: 3 months. 10th-14th year: 4 months. From the 15th year: 6 months.