Checklist: Correct cancellation in Switzerland
A job change needs to be well prepared - and that includes giving notice. With this checklist, you can ensure that you consider all the important points and end your employment relationship professionally.
1. before the cancellation: Preparation & deadlines
Before you draft the letter, the key data must be correct.
Check your employment contract: What notice period has been agreed? (Standard according to the Swiss Code of Obligations: 1 month in the 1st year of service, 2 months up to the 9th year, then 3 months).
Determine the cancellation date: In Switzerland, cancellation usually takes place at the end of a month.
Plan date of receipt: The notice of termination must be received by the employer by the last day of the month at the latest.
2 Formal correctness: the letter of cancellation
Please note the following points to protect yourself from unpleasant surprises.
Choose the written form: Even if verbal cancellation is often permitted, always give notice in writing for reasons of proof.
Check the content: Name, address, current date, clear sentence on cancellation and the exact date of your last day of work.
Signature: The document should be signed by hand, especially if written form is agreed.
Reason (optional): You do not have to give a reason. However, if the employer requests a written justification, you are obliged to do so in accordance with Art. 335 para. 2 CO.
3. personal delivery or dispatch
Protect yourself legally.
Use registered mail: Registered mail (R-letter) is the gold standard for postal dispatch in Switzerland.
Personal delivery: If you deliver the letter directly, have the receipt acknowledged on a copy with the date and signature.
4. the personal conversation
Professionalism to the end pays off and enriches your network.
Make an appointment: Inform your line manager in a brief conversation in private.
Remain objective: Explain your decision briefly without getting emotional or leaving scorched earth behind.
5. administrative clarification (exit modalities)
Settle your claims at an early stage.
Remaining holiday: Clarify whether you can take your holiday days (actual fulfilment) or whether a payout is necessary.
Overtime: Check your contract for compensation regulations or payment modalities.
Request a reference: Ask for a full, favourable reference (Art. 330a OR).
Plan the handover: Create documentation of your tasks and projects for your successor. This will ensure a clean farewell. Say goodbye to your contacts in a friendly and professional manner.
Check your last payslip: Have all entitlements been taken into account? Check bonuses, commissions and expenses.
FAQ: Important questions about cancellation
1. does the date of the postmark apply to a cancellation?
No. In Switzerland, the principle of receipt applies. Notice of termination is only deemed to have been given when it arrives in the employer's sphere of influence (letterbox or PO box).
2. am I allowed to work somewhere else during my remaining holiday?
Caution: The fiduciary relationship applies during the entire notice period. A job that competes with your current employment or the start of a full-time position is only permitted after the official end of the contract.
3 When should I take care of my reference?
Ideally at an early stage - preferably directly after termination or during the notice period. This gives you enough time to check the reference and request adjustments if necessary.