Wage Workshop 2026

The annual payroll workshop took place on November 11, 2026, at the Sursee Business Park with 58 participants, and on November 13, 2026, at the Lucerne Exhibition Center with 43 participants. The three speakers—Maria Kurmann (Branch Manager in Willisau and Responsible for Payroll and Personnel Administration), Michèle Vogel (Head of Private and Occupational Provision, Financial Planning Advisory, Senior Consultant Payroll and Personnel Administration), and Janine Macho (Manager Legal Advisory) discussed the following topics:

• Pay Stubs: Updates to the SSK guidelines, case study: Filling out a complex pay stub (expenses, personal use of a company vehicle, employer benefits, etc.)
• Working from Home: What counts as a place of work? Which canton is responsible for social insurance?
• Leave of Absence for Employees: What happens in cases of incapacity to work, revocation of leave, vacation, overtime, or starting a new job?
• Employment reference: Illness/alcohol/license revocation (What can be mentioned regarding the reason for termination?)
• Duty to provide information upon an employee’s departure: Coverage in case of illness and accident?
• Severance pay: When is it owed? How must it be accounted for in the payroll?
• Notes on current case law: Employer liability for health damage (stress liability), no extension of the notice period for short absences during an ongoing notice period, interaction between UVG and DAI insurance, personnel regulations (which points must still be included in the employment contract), burden of proof for business expenses even with a company credit card
• Update on social insurance

During the coffee break and the standing lunch that followed, participants had the opportunity to ask individual questions, make valuable connections, and share experiences.

A heartfelt thank you to all participants for their active involvement, the thought-provoking questions, and the valuable exchange—as well as to all the speakers for their dedicated efforts and expertise.