Introduction
If employees become ill through no fault of their own and are
therefore unable to work, they are still entitled to a wage.
Employers' obligation to continue to pay wages is governed by
Article 324a of the Code of Obligations. Employers may release
themselves from this obligation if they offer employees health
insurance for a daily allowance. The Federal Supreme Court has
formulated the requirements for employee health insurance.
Protection for covered employees begins earlier and lasts
considerably longer in the case of long absences due to illness
than employers' obligation to continue to pay wages.
Duration of employment counts
According to Article 324a of the Code of Obligations,
employers' obligation to continue to pay wages does not arise
until the start of the fourth month of employment, unless the
employment relationship has existed for more than three months.
This is the case for fixed-term employment relationships. Permanent
employment
