Working, Opening, and Rest Hours for Businesses
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As a business in the Canton of Zurich, you are required to comply with the legal regulations regarding working hours, rest periods, and store opening hours. These regulations protect the health of your employees and the public’s need for Sunday rest.
Key Points at a Glance
- The most important regulations regarding maximum daily and weekly working hours, overtime, and weekly rest days can be found here.
- Night and Sunday work generally require authorization and may only be performed with the employee’s consent.
- A systematic system for recording working hours must be in place.
- For retail stores, cantonal regulations on rest days and store opening hours apply.
Working Time Recording
Working hours and rest periods, including breaks, must generally be systematically recorded. The records must be retained for at least 5 years. Under strictly defined conditions, simplified working time recording or a complete waiver of recording is possible for certain employees.
Store Opening Hours and Days Off
In the Canton of Zurich, the opening hours for retail stores are governed by the Day of Rest and Store Opening Act (RLG) and the associated ordinance (VRLG).
The following points, among others, must be observed:
- From Monday through Saturday, stores may generally remain open without any time restrictions.
- On public holidays, stores must generally remain closed.
- Exceptions apply, among others, to pharmacies, bakeries, flower shops, newsstands, small shops, and stores located in public transportation hubs.
- Municipalities may designate up to four public holidays or Sundays on which stores may remain open.
How to proceed
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Check which maximum working hours apply to your industry: 45 or 50 hours per week. Schedule rest periods, breaks, and the weekly day off as mandatory from the start. Follow the rules regarding overtime and extra hours.
Implement a systematic time tracking system for all employees. Retain the records for at least 5 years.
Be aware of any collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) that may contain additional or differing regulations for your industry.
If you operate a retail location, review the regulations regarding cantonal store opening hours and days of rest. Determine whether special regulations apply to your location.
If necessary, contact the local authorities.
If your business requires night or Sunday work (e.g., due to on-call duty), submit a request in a timely manner and include the employees’ consent. The procedure varies depending on the duration and location:
Conducting the mandatory medical examination for employees who perform permanent or regularly recurring night work and, in doing so, carry out particularly strenuous or hazardous tasks or are exposed to strenuous or hazardous situations.
Note:
The information on this page is for guidance only and is not exhaustive. Details should be clarified with experts or the relevant authorities as early as possible.
Further information
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Contact
Amt für Wirtschaft – Arbeitsinspektorat
Montag bis Freitag
08.00 bis 12.00 Uhr und
13.30 bis 16.00 Uhr
