Hello.. can anyone let me know whether, under swiss law, I have the satutory right to be granted a few days off a year to celebrate a religious festival ? thank you for you replies
As long as they are holidays celebrated by the prevailing religion of the Kanton of you company, yes. Then they will be public holidays for all employees. Otherwise, no. But as you will have at least 4 weeks of holiday that shouldn't be much of a problem, should it?
Thanks for the reply . The time off isn't about quantity it is about timing! Do I have the right to time off to observe the religious days on those days!?
Unfortunately, most of Europe is focus around Christian religious days, if you of another faith, which ever it may be, and your religions most sacred days fall outside the kantons public holidays, you are officially not entitled in any way to be 100% granted those days off, i.e. if your boss says you are needed on those days, you wont get the days off. In general what you need to do here, is discuss the matter with your superiors or at least make sure you mention it during your job interviews that you "require" specific religious days off.
I dont believe there is a law for this beyond what Tilia mentioned. You definitely need to check the calendar of your Kanton, and then this is something you should discuss with your supervisor directly (timing) and probably take the days off your 25 day allowance.
No, you don't have that right. Noone has the right to take holiday whenever he or she wishes, religion or no religion. However, companies and managers are usually rather human so I would suggest you discuss the issue with your manager if it is an important issue for you.
Thank you for advice!
mim, iam muslim and my employer gives me the day off for the 2 religious islamic festivals and gives me friday afternoon off for the friday prayers. i never asked for these holidays but it seems that its a policy where i work. and we get the afternoon off if its our birthday.
so you can talk to your employer and find out, if u can take days off for your religious holidays.
Every Friday afternoon off? I will convert just for that. Where do I sign?
where i work the majority are foreigners with different cultural and religious backrounds. i guess thats why the employer is tolerant. but i guess if min talks to his employers they can come to an understanding.
well the afternoon off is for those who actually go to the mosque and spend the afternoon praying. i dont take all these holidays, as it would be dishonest to take advantage of this, when one is not religious.
I get 1 day off for my main festival 'Diwali'
They better give me days off for worshipping the devil. Monday, Wednesday and Friday every week. It's my religion and I can't compromise
There shall be no rest for the wicked.
I presume these religious days are taken either without pay or in lieu of normal holiday entitlement?
Or does it depend on the employer?
Or the religion?
Or both?
i get six weeks holiday and the religious days off are subtracted from that
well then, tell your boss that u need to worship satan 3x a week and need those days off. also do take a camra with u and get a picture and post it here
Religious holidays (or days off to do DIY and the garden, as they are known in the UK ) should follow whatever is on offer from the locality. Switzerland is cool if you work in a Catholic canton because you get a day or two extra off.
If you are of a different religion to that locality, I would have said that you can then take these days from your annual leave but reading the above posts it seems there are some really generous employers who give these days as a freebie.
just out of interest
does this mean you are volunteering to come in and work on Xmas etc without demanding any special compensation?
Happy main festival. What will you do ? most people would be working here. Just wondering.
Best wishes