Bad weather compensation (SWE)

Bad weather compensation may be paid in the following lines of employment:

• Masons, carpenters, plasterers, roofers; 
• Quarrymen and gravel workers;
• Road builders, paving;
• Stonecutter;
• Pavers;
• Landscape gardener;
• Spengler;
• Sewer cleaners;
• Water and avalanche installers;
• Rüfearbeiter;
• Forestry workers, unless they are engaged in the subsidiary branch of an agricultural enterprise;

A work loss is creditable if:

• it is caused exclusively by the weather;
• it has lasted at least three full working days;
• the continuation of the work is impossible or economically unjustifiable or cannot be expected of the employees;
• it takes place in the period from December 1 to 23 and from January 7 to March 15; 

Only full or half days will be credited.

A waiting period/waiting days of two days is generally deducted from the chargeable work loss for each payroll period (calendar month). A separate entry on the payroll form is not required, this is automatically taken into account in column 15. For these two days, the employer owes the employee the full salary according to the employment contract.

In principle, all contributory employees who are in a non-terminated employment relationship, have not yet reached the AHV retirement age and are employed for an indefinite period at a fixed workload are eligible.

No entitlement has persons who:

• are in an apprenticeship relationship;
• are in the service of an organization for temporary work;
• in an employment relationship for a definite period;
• already drawing an AHV pension or have reached the ordinary retirement age;
• are in a terminated employment relationship;
• in their capacity as shareholders, as financially involved in the business or as members of a supreme operational decision-making body can determine or significantly influence the decisions of the employer, as well as their collaborating spouses.

Yes, provided that all requirements are met. The same eligibility requirements apply to hourly-paid employees as to monthly-paid employees. In principle, there is only an entitlement to short-time compensation if there is a contractually agreed working time or if, in an employment contract on call, the workload shows only minor fluctuations and thus proof of the chargeable loss of working hours can be provided.

The employer is obliged to advance the bad weather compensation and to pay the affected employees 80% of the chargeable loss of earnings on the ordinary payday. The bad weather compensation is equal to 60% of the actual proven loss of work. 

During short-time work, the employer shall pay the full statutory and contractually agreed social security contributions corresponding to normal working hours. He is entitled to deduct the employees' full contribution shares from their wages, unless otherwise agreed. 

The employer is obliged to keep the originals of all forms and documents relevant to the registration and settlement of bad weather compensation for five years and to submit them to the Office of National Economy (AVW) upon request. The AVW is entitled to carry out or have carried out an inspection at the employer's business at any time within the retention period.