Notice period in Switzerland: one, two or three months
Updated on October 24, 2026
Once probation is over, article 335c of the Code of Obligations sets notice at one month during the first year of service, two months from the second to the ninth year, and three months from the tenth. Notice takes effect at the end of a month. A written agreement may lengthen these periods. Shortening them below the statutory minimum is not allowed.
What the statute says
Article 335c CO counts years of service from the start of the contract, not from 1 January. The same period applies to the employer and the employee. During probation a different rule applies: seven days, under article 335b CO.
Writing and agreement
Notice does not have to state a reason in order to be valid, but it must be received. A collective agreement or the contract may set a longer period. The binding text is the Code of Obligations published on Fedlex.
| Year of service | Notice | Effective date |
|---|---|---|
| 1st year | 1 month | End of a month |
| 2nd to 9th year | 2 months | End of a month |
| From the 10th year | 3 months | End of a month |