Childcare rates and conditions

Scope of childcare

I care for children from 6 months to 12 years, with no more than three children at a time. The rates below cover up to three siblings from the same family.

Childcare includes the agreed tasks relating to your children, such as morning routines, school journeys, homework and preparing their meals. I tidy up play and craft materials with the children after we use them. General cleaning, laundry for the whole family and other household chores are not included in the childcare wage.

Caring for children from several families and joining a family trip require a separate written agreement. The rates below do not automatically apply to those arrangements.

Hours and travel

The minimum booking is three consecutive hours. For regular childcare, we record the fixed weekdays and guaranteed number of paid hours in the contract.

Paid time starts at handover and ends when you take responsibility for your children again. School journeys and other agreed travel with the children count as working time. If I must watch the children or remain available during a break, that time is also paid. Any legally or contractually required breaks free of duties remain protected.

Extra visits and extensions require my confirmation. If you return late, the additional time is paid by the minute. My normal commute to the agreed workplace does not count as working time.

Rates and payment

The minimum three-hour booking is CHF 105 gross. Half days and full days are fixed blocks at the same hourly rate. Additional time is paid at CHF 35 gross per hour.

Confirmed work between 8 pm and 7 am, on Saturdays, Sundays or public holidays at the childcare location carries a supplement of CHF 5 gross per hour. If several of these conditions apply at once, this supplement is charged only once. A Saturday half day is therefore CHF 160 gross, and a full day CHF 320 gross. These rates do not guarantee that I am available at those times.

These are my base gross wages before statutory employee deductions. Paid holiday entitlement is additional and paid when holidays are taken. You also cover employer social insurance contributions, required insurance and agreed expenses. The table therefore does not show the family’s total costs.

I keep a record of hours. You provide the monthly payslip and transfer wages and expenses by the 5th of the following month. Any overtime supplements due under law or contract are additional; time off in lieu requires my agreement.

Expenses

For bus journeys together, you provide the necessary tickets for me and your children. You reimburse other travel during childcare, entry fees and required materials at their actual, pre-approved cost against receipts. You provide funds for larger expenses in advance. Any reimbursement of my commute must be agreed in writing before booking.

Employment in your household

For childcare in your home, you employ me directly. As the employer, you handle the required registrations, payroll and statutory insurance. Employer contributions are payable in addition to my gross wage.

We sign a written employment contract before the first visit. It records, in particular, the guaranteed hours, wages and holidays. Mandatory statutory and cantonal provisions take precedence over these conditions.

Cancellations and illness

I reserve confirmed individual visits and contractually guaranteed hours for you. If you cancel or shorten a visit, or do not need childcare because of your own holidays or a sick child, the agreed wage remains payable as long as I am ready to work. Cancelled hours do not have to be made up.

Saved expenses and applicable earnings from other work are taken into account according to the law. I do not charge expenses that were not incurred. A change of date is binding only once I have agreed to it in writing.

If a child has a contagious illness, please tell me before the visit. We clarify whether childcare is appropriate before I travel. Caring for children with contagious illnesses is not automatically included in a booking. The effect on pay depends on the reason for the absence and the rules above.

If I become ill, I tell you as soon as possible. Statutory and applicable cantonal rights to continued pay, or an agreed equivalent insurance arrangement, apply. I cannot guarantee a replacement carer.

Holidays and notice

I am entitled to five weeks of paid holiday per year. Entitlement is calculated proportionately for part-time work or shorter employment. Holiday pay is paid when I take leave, in addition to wages for hours worked. It is not included in the base rates above.

We plan holidays around three months in advance where possible. Additional holidays taken by your family do not reduce my guaranteed paid hours. My holiday dates take account of your household’s needs and my wishes.

For an open-ended employment contract, the trial period is one month with seven calendar days’ notice. After that, both parties have a notice period of two months ending on the last day of a month. Notice must be given in writing. Agreed hours remain paid during the notice period. Statutory protection periods and the right to immediate termination for good cause remain unaffected.

Individual fixed-term visits end at the agreed time. If the family cancels, the rules under “Cancellations and illness” apply.

Information for childcare

Before the first visit, I need information relevant to caring for your children, including how to reach you, emergency contacts, allergies and other needs.

Please tell me if this information changes so I can take it into account.

Privacy

I treat information about your children and family life as confidential. I use it for the agreed childcare and to manage our working arrangements.

Public use of photos or other material from your family life requires separate consent.