Everything you need to know about leisure and non-occupational accidents.

Responsibilities in the event of a leisure accident:

• Statutory protection: employees who work at least eight hours a week for the same employer are automatically insured by their employer’s accident insurance – including for accidents during leisure time. These are also known as non-occupational accidents, or NOAs for short.

• Benefits: compulsory NOA insurance covers treatment costs, daily allowances and, in serious cases, a disability pension.

• Continued payment of salary: depending on the employment contract and duration, you may be entitled to continued payment of your salary or a daily allowance through your accident insurance.

• Additions: private accident insurance covers gaps, such as for children, self-employed persons or higher claims.

Definition and delimitation:

• Non-occupational accident (NOA): an accident that occurs outside working hours and not at work, such as when cycling, hiking, or cleaning at home.

• Leisure accident: in everyday terms, this usually means the same thing as a non-occupational accident.

• Difference to a work-related accident: work-related accidents, or occupational accidents (OAs for short), happen during work or on the direct route to or from work. 

• Examples of leisure accidents: sports injuries, household accidents and falls in the garden or while skiing are among the most common non-occupational accidents.

Principles of statutory accident insurance (UVG):

• UVG = Federal Accident Insurance Act: governs compulsory accident insurance in Switzerland for employees. 

• Responsible: under the UVG, employers must take out accident insurance for their employees. The employer’s accident insurance covers employees in the event of occupational accidents and – depending on hours worked – non-occupational accidents (NOAs) as well. 

• What’s covered: occupational accidents (OAs), non-occupational accidents (NOAs) and occupational illnesses. In principle, all employees in Switzerland are insured under statutory accident insurance pursuant to the UVG.

• Non-occupational accidents as an integral part of accident insurance: non-occupational accident insurance is compulsory for those who work more than eight hours a week. It provides protection in the event of leisure accidents.

NOA obligation explained in simple terms:

• Yes, NOA insurance is compulsory if you work more than eight hours a week for the same employer.

• The insurance is automatically concluded through the employer.

• Those who are not subject to this obligation, such as children, part-time employees who work less than eight hours and the self-employed, need private accident insurance for their leisure time.

• Important: students, housewives/house husbands and retirees are not automatically insured against leisure accidents either. If you want to take out additional insurance against the financial consequences of an accident in your free time, you can take out private accident insurance.

Contributions to NOA insurance:

• Yes, contributions to NOA insurance are deducted directly from your salary.

• NOA contribution amount: the exact amount varies depending on the employer and insurance model. The accident insurance deduction, or NOA deduction, usually appears separately on your monthly pay slip.

• Occupational accident (OA) versus non-occupational accident (NOA): who pays? The employer pays the contributions for occupational accidents. Contributions for non-occupational accidents are generally deducted from the employee’s salary.

Reporting an accident – what’s important:

• In the event of an occupational accident (OA): notify your employer immediately. They are obliged to report the accident to their accident insurance. You’ll need a medical certificate.

• In the event of a non-occupational accident (NOA): again, you should report the accident to your employer as soon as possible, as the employer will forward the report to the NOA insurance company – provided you are insured through them. This is the case if you work at least eight hours a week for the same employer.

• If you are not insured through your employer (e.g. children, students, self-employed persons, housewives/house husbands, retirees): report the accident directly to your private accident insurance company. Receipts, medical certificates and a detailed description of the incident are required.

• Important: if you are unsure, ask your HR department or your insurance company directly. Depending on the case, reporting the accident promptly can be crucial to obtaining benefits.