Collective insurance for daily sickness benefits

It is not required by law, but is highly recommended because an uninsured employer can incur significant costs during the statutory sick pay period.

Example: Under the scale applicable for the city of Berne, an employee is entitled to 21 days of sick pay, i.e. continuing salary payment in the first year of employment. This number of days increases for every additional year of employment. For an employee who has been with the company for 14 years, the employer would have a sick pay obligation for a period of 150 days. If someone else has to be hired as a replacement, this results in twice the payroll cost. Insurance for daily sickness benefits covers the pay of employees suffering from work incapacity upon elapse of the applicable waiting period, relieving the employer of financial burden.

The insurance premium cost can be shared between employer and employee; the employer generally has to pay at least 50%.

Yes. The amount of the insurance premium depends on several factors, including the insured percentage of pay (80 - 100% of the employee’s pay subject to AHV social security contributions) and the length of the waiting period chosen by the employer (7, 14, 30 or 60 days). Preventative measures are recommended wherever possible, to protect employees’ health, which is why we advise and support employers on these aspects of occupational health management.