Compensation of employers for loss of working hours due to coronavirus
The absence of employees from work due to the coronavirus causes employers high costs. Under certain conditions, they are entitled to compensation. It can be applied for at the designated compensation office.
Compensation for loss due to childcare
Many employees had to interrupt their work because the care of their children under the age of 12 was no longer guaranteed, and yet they continued to receive their wages. Employers are entitled to compensation for the loss of work suffered if they continued to pay the employees’ wages. However, this claim does not exist if the work can also be performed by the employee via home office. There is also no entitlement during school holidays, because the schools would not have offered childcare during this time anyway. If, however, care was planned during the holidays which is not available due to the corona virus, the entitlement continues to exist. This is the case, for example, if the grandparents cannot provide their childcare services because they are part of the risk group.
Commencement and scope of the claim
Entitlement to compensation for loss of working hours due to childcare begins on the fourth day on which all the conditions are met. This means on 19 March 2020 at the earliest, because the schools have only been closed since 16 March 2020. The claim ends when the measures to combat the coronavirus are lifted or if care is found for the children. The compensation amounts to 80 percent of the gross income of the employee concerned before his or her loss of employment, but not more than CHF 196 per day. The employer of each parent is entitled to the compensation if the conditions are met. However, the compensation is paid only once, because one parent alone can manage the care.
Compensation for employees in quarantine
The employer is also entitled to compensation for employees who are in quarantine and therefore cannot perform their work, provided that their wages were paid. Again, the claim does not exist if the work can be done via home office. Employers are also not entitled to compensation if they are already receiving sickness benefits from their insurance companies. The entitlement begins on the day on which all the conditions are met, but not before 17 March 2020. It ends when the quarantine is lifted or when 10 daily allowances have been paid. The compensation amounts as well to 80 percent of the gross earned income, but no more than CHF 196 per day.
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