If the employee is prevented from working through no fault of his/her own because he/she has a legal duty to care for his/her children, the employer must give him/her up to three days off and continue to pay the wage. Parents must, however, make every effort to prevent further absences with suitable organisation.
With the innovations communicated by the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) on 20 March 2020, parents with children under 12 years of age can now apply for wage compensation from the competent compensation office from day 4 at home. The compensation amounts to 80% of the average salary, but no more than CHF 196 per day.
Parents and employees can find further details and the necessary forms here: