Employment contract
An employment contract creates a work relationship in which an employee performs work under the employer’s direction for remuneration.
In Switzerland, an employment contract may be written, oral, or implied, unless special rules require form for particular clauses. Its core elements are personal work, subordination to the employer’s instructions, and pay. Mandatory rules protect employees on wages, holidays, working time, notice, sickness, pregnancy, and workplace safety, while collective agreements may add sector-specific terms. The label chosen by the parties is not decisive: a “freelance” arrangement may still be treated as employment if the actual relationship shows dependency and integration.