Unpaid Leave

Request and Approval

• The request must be submitted in writing and must specify:
  • The exact dates of the leave
  • The reasons for the leave
• It must be addressed to the HR Manager of the relevant unit
• It must be approved and co-signed by the direct supervisor

Maximum Duration

• Unpaid leave may not exceed 12 months
• For doctoral assistants, specific rules apply

Entering Unpaid Leave in the Absence Management System

• Once the unpaid leave has been approved, the entry will be made directly by the Social Insurance team
• The reason to be selected is “unpaid leave”

Impact on Insurance and Pension Plans

For unpaid leave longer than one month:

• Accident Insurance (SUVA)
  • Coverage is maintained for the first 31 days
  • Beyond that: the employee must take out individual insurance at their own expense
• Occupational Pension Plan (2nd pillar – PUBLICA)
  Three options are available:
  1. Maintain full coverage (retirement, death, and disability) and pay the statutory contributions for savings + risk (both employee and employer shares)
  2. Maintain risk coverage only (death and disability) and pay the statutory risk contributions (both employee and employer shares)
  3. No coverage

The contributions due (options 1 and 2) are deducted from the last salary before the start of the leave.

Reduction of Vacation Entitlement

If unpaid leave exceeds 30 days in a calendar year, vacation entitlement is reduced proportionally.