An employer employs an employee with another permanent position for a certain period. How does this employee need to be insured against accidents?

March 14, 2025

Liability and Insurance Law

An employee who already has another permanent position and is employed by another employer for a certain period must be insured against accidents according to the Federal Act on Accident Insurance (UVG).

According to Art. 1a para. 1 UVG, all employees employed in Switzerland are mandatorily insured. The insurance begins on the day the employment relationship starts or when the right to claim wages arises for the first time, or at the moment the employee heads to work (Art. 3 para. 1 UVG). The insurance ends on the 31st day after the day on which the right to at least half the salary ceases (Art. 3 para. 2 UVG).

Part-time employees whose working hours amount to less than eight hours per week are only insured against occupational accidents (Art. 8 para. 2 UVG). Occupational accidents are those that occur during work on the employer's order or in their interest, during work breaks, or before and after work at the workplace (Art. 7 para. 1 UVG). For part-time employees, accidents on the way to work also count as occupational accidents (Art. 7 para. 2 UVG).

The premiums for the mandatory insurance of occupational accidents and occupational diseases are borne by the employer (Art. 91 para. 1 UVG). The premiums for the mandatory insurance of non-occupational accidents are the responsibility of the employee. The employer deducts the employee's share from the salary (Art. 91 para. 2 and para. 3 UVG).

In summary, the worker must be insured against occupational accidents, and with a workload of more than 8 hours per week, also against non-occupational accidents. The corresponding mandatory insurance is provided by the temporary employer.

Sources

Federal Act of March 20, 1981 on Accident Insurance (UVG) > First Title a. Insured Persons > 1. Chapter: Compulsory Insurance > Insured

Art. 1a para. 1 UVG

1 Obligatorily insured under this law are:a. employees employed in Switzerland, including home workers, trainees, interns, volunteers, as well as persons engaged in training or sheltered workshops; b. persons who meet the requirements of Article 8 of the Unemployment Insurance Act of June 25, 1982 (AVIG) or receive benefits under Article 29 AVIG (unemployed persons); c. persons who participate in an institution or workshop according to Article 27 paragraph 1 of the Federal Act of June 19, 1959 on Disability Insurance (IVG) or in a company in measures of disability insurance, provided they are in a contract-like relationship.

Art. 1a para. 2 UVG

2 The Federal Council can extend the insurance obligation to persons who are in a contract-like relationship. It can provide exceptions to the insurance obligation, in particular for family members working alongside, for irregularly employed individuals, and for persons who, in the sense of Article 2 paragraph 2 of the Host State Act of June 22, 2007, are favored by privileges, immunities, and facilitations.

Federal Act of March 20, 1981 on Accident Insurance (UVG) > First Title a. Insured Persons > 1. Chapter: Compulsory Insurance > Insured

Art. 1a para. 1 UVG

1 Obligatorily insured under this law are:a. employees employed in Switzerland, including home workers, trainees, interns, volunteers, as well as persons engaged in training or sheltered workshops; b. persons who meet the requirements of Article 8 of the Unemployment Insurance Act of June 25, 1982 (AVIG) or receive benefits under Article 29 AVIG (unemployed persons); c. persons who participate in an institution or workshop according to Article 27 paragraph 1 of the Federal Act of June 19, 1959 on Disability Insurance (IVG) or in a company in measures of disability insurance, provided they are in a contract-like relationship.

Art. 1a para. 2 UVG

2 The Federal Council can extend the insurance obligation to persons who are in a contract-like relationship. It can provide exceptions to the insurance obligation, in particular for family members working alongside, for irregularly employed individuals, and for persons who, in the sense of Article 2 paragraph 2 of the Host State Act of June 22, 2007, are favored by privileges, immunities, and facilitations.

Federal Act of March 20, 1981 on Accident Insurance (UVG) > First Title a. Insured Persons > 1. Chapter: Mandatory Insurance > Start, End and Suspension of Insurance

Art. 3 para. 1 UVG

1 The insurance begins on the day the employment relationship starts or when the claim for wages first arises, in any case at the time the employee sets out for work. For unemployed persons, it begins on the day the eligibility requirements according to Article 8 AVIG are first met or compensation according to Article 29 AVIG is received.

Art. 3 para. 2 UVG

2 The insurance ends 31 days after the day on which the claim to at least half the wage ceases, and for unemployed persons, it ends 31 days after the day on which the eligibility requirements according to Article 8 AVIG were last met or compensation according to Article 29 AVIG was received.

Art. 3 para. 3 UVG

3 The insurer must offer the insured the possibility to extend the insurance by special agreement for up to six months.

Art. 3 para. 4 UVG

4 The insurance is suspended if the insured is subject to military insurance or a foreign mandatory accident insurance.

Art. 3 para. 5 UVG

5 The Federal Council regulates the compensations and substitute incomes that count as wages, as well as the form and content of agreements regarding the extension of insurances.

Federal Act of March 20, 1981 on Accident Insurance (UVG) > First Title a. Insured Persons > 1. Chapter: Mandatory Insurance > Start, End and Suspension of Insurance

Art. 3 para. 1 UVG

1 The insurance begins on the day the employment relationship starts or when the claim for wages first arises, in any case at the time the employee sets out for work. For unemployed persons, it begins on the day the eligibility requirements according to Article 8 AVIG are first met or compensation according to Article 29 AVIG is received.

Art. 3 para. 2 UVG

2 The insurance ends 31 days after the day on which the claim to at least half the wage ceases, and for unemployed persons, it ends 31 days after the day on which the eligibility requirements according to Article 8 AVIG were last met or compensation according to Article 29 AVIG was received.

Art. 3 para. 3 UVG

3 The insurer must offer the insured the possibility to extend the insurance by special agreement for up to six months.

Art. 3 para. 4 UVG

4 The insurance is suspended if the insured is subject to military insurance or a foreign mandatory accident insurance.

Art. 3 para. 5 UVG

5 The Federal Council regulates the compensations and substitute incomes that count as wages, as well as the form and content of agreements regarding the extension of insurances.

Federal Act of March 20, 1981, on Accident Insurance (UVG) > Second Title: Subject of Insurance > Non-occupational Accidents

Art. 8 Para. 2 UVG

2 Part-time employees according to Article 7 Paragraph 2 are not insured against non-occupational accidents.

Art. 8 Para. 1 UVG

1 Non-occupational accidents are all accidents (Art. 4 ATSG) that are not classified as occupational accidents.

Federal Act of March 20, 1981, on Accident Insurance (UVG) > Second Title: Subject of Insurance > Non-occupational Accidents

Art. 8 Para. 2 UVG

2 Part-time employees according to Article 7 Paragraph 2 are not insured against non-occupational accidents.

Art. 8 Para. 1 UVG

1 Non-occupational accidents are all accidents (Art. 4 ATSG) that are not classified as occupational accidents.