Caring for dependants

There are two different types of paid leave for employees who care for sick or elderly family members, or relatives with disabilities or reduced mobility.

Short vacation to care for relatives (3 days): According to the DownloadPersonnel Ordinance (PDF, 1.4 MB)vertical_align_bottom (Art. 52, German), up to 3 days per event will be credited to you as working time for the initial care and the organisation of further care of sick members of your own household or your family, if no other care possibility is available.

Long vacation and care allowance (up to 14 weeks): If you take time off work to care for a child whose health is seriously impaired due to illness or accident, you will be paid full wages and social allowances for a maximum of 14 weeks in accordance with the DownloadPersonnel Ordinance (PDF, 1.4 MB)vertical_align_bottom (Art. 37b, German). Both parents are entitled to a total of 14 weeks, which they can divide as they wish.

If you have any questions, please contact your HR consultant.

If you can organize your work flexibly, it is easier to combine caring for relatives and your job. As a modern employer, ETH Zurich offers progressive working conditions: part-time work, working from home options, and flexible working hours; if the operational requirements allow it. Unpaid vacations are also possible.

ETH Zurich recommends that you, as an employee, have an open discussion with your supervisor about your situation as a carer to clarify the following questions:

• What challenges do you face regarding your work?
• Do you need more flexibility on working hours? Can you estimate the amount of time you spend caring?
• Do you need to reduce your working hours, and if so, by how much?
• What possible implications could there be for the team and how could the work be changed or redistributed accordingly?

By sorting out these questions at an early stage, you have the chance to make suggestions to your supervisor and agree on appropriate measures.

If necessary, you can also involve your HR consultant.

Links

• Working remotely in Switzerland
• Unpaid vacation

The external pageAHV/IVcall_made (Old-Age and Survivors’ Insurance/Disability Insurance) provides for a helplessness allowance for those receiving an old-age pension or external pagesupplementary benefitcall_made. If you have cared for a person of pensionable age for at least 12 consecutive months, you can apply for this external pagehelplessness allowancecall_made for them. It is not dependent on income or assets.

People who look after family members requiring care in their own household can apply for external pagecare creditscall_made (German) from the Compensation Office in the canton where they live. The credits enable carers to receive a higher pension.

The brochure external pageDer Praktische Ratgebercall_made (The Practical Adviser, German) published by the City of Zurich authorities describes the additional benefits available under AHV/IV in detail. For Basel and Lugano, the cantons of external pageBasel-Stadtcall_made (German), external pageBasellandcall_made (German) and external pageTicinocall_made (Italian) also offer further information.

Ask at your municipality what additional financial support services are available to you.

If you need advice or support, various specialist departments within and outside ETH will be happy to help you.

• HR consulting
  If you have any questions about employment, working hours, and legal matters, please feel free to contact your HR consultant.

• Counselling support to reconcile work, studies, and family life
  With a free coaching/consulting service, ETH Zurich supports employees and students in optimizing the balance between family, work, and studies. Parents with child(ren) or relatives requiring care can benefit from up to two coaching or consulting sequences at the UND specialist center (Kompetenzzentrum für die Umsetzung der Vereinbarkeit von Beruf und Familie/Privatleben). IDownloadnformation sheet Reconciliation coaching (PDF, 35 KB)vertical_align_bottom

• Psychological Advice Centre (IAP) for postdocs and employees
  Postdocs and employees of ETH Zurich who need psychological support can contact the external Employee Assistance Programme (EAP). If emerging difficulties are recognised and addressed at an early stage, psychological and physical health can be improved in the long term.

• Psychological counselling services for students and doctoral students
  Professional counselling can help overcome difficult phases in life, troubles in studies, and conflicts arising during the course of doctoral study. With the external pagecounselling services for students and doctoral studentscall_made you will receive effective support – also in the case of an acute crisis. The counselling service is open to all students and doctoral students at the University of Zurich and ETH Zurich.

• Advice center for life in old age (LiA)
  The external pageLiA counseling centercall_made at the Center for Gerontology at the University of Zurich (UZH) offers psychosocial counselling for people and institutions who are confronted with questions about aging.
   

• National information platform info-workcare
  The national information platform external pageinfo-workcare.chcall_made (German) is a source of valuable information, tips and contact addresses on questions relating to caring for family members.

• Internet platform pflegesearch
  external pagePflegesearch.chcall_made (German) provides patients and their relatives with information and services relating to care. It aims to strengthen the decision-making competence of people in need of care and their relatives. A search function allows care services in each region to be easily found, with offer such as home visiting services, meals on wheels, and holidays.

• Local authorities
  Local authorities (local municipal administration, social services, social welfare office etc.) offer various forms of support for caring for the elderly. Ask your local authority who you should contact. Some cantons offer this assistance via a special office for carers. external pageSpitex Kantonalverbändecall_made (German)

• Pro Senectute
  external pagePro Senectutecall_made (German) advises senior citizens and their families on questions to do with finance, pensions, help with care, looking after senior citizens, and accommodation in old age. The advice is free and confidential.

• Swiss Red Cross (SRK)
  The external pageSwiss Red Crosscall_made (SRK) offers support services such as drivers, emergency hotlines, assistance with using public transport, visitors, and companions and courses on caring. There is a Red Cross office responsible for each canton.
  Information about the services of the SRK for external pagerelatives who are carerscall_made

• More useful links 
  • The external pageSwiss Alzheimer's Associationcall_made (German) is primarily for people with dementia, their family members, and other carers.
  • The external pageCareumcall_made research programme “work & care” is studying the question of how employment can be combined with caring for sick, disabled, or elderly family members.
  • external pageFragile Suissecall_made (German) helps people with brain injuries to become more independent and supports their families.
  • external pageheiminfo.chcall_made (German) is a search engine for social institutions in Switzerland
  • external pageNursing homes with care places and old people’s homes in the canton of Zurichcall_made (German)
  • external pagepalliative zh+shcall_made (German) deals with matters relating to palliative care and lists relevant points of contact by postcode.
  • external pageParkinson Schweizcall_made (German) informs, supports, advises, and helps those affected by Parkinson’s, with the aim of helping them to achieve the best possible quality of life despite their illness.
  • external pagePro Infirmiscall_made (German) provides services to help people with disabilities and their families with daily living and participating in important areas of life, for example housing, work, and leisure.
  • external pagePro Mente Sanacall_made (German) advises people with mental illness and their family members on psychosocial and legal matters. The advice is provided free of charge by phone or email.
  • external pageSwiss Multiple Sclerosiscall_made (MS) Society (German) provides a dedicated service for the families of people affected by MS.
  • external pageProcapcall_made (German) is the largest self-help organization by and for people with disabilities in Switzerland.
  • The Swiss Foundation external pagecerebralcall_made (German) works to ensure that people with cerebral movement impairment and their families can lead as self-determined, mobile, and carefree lives as possible.