“What kind of society is a society in which a pregnant woman has to work until she gives birth? The system is wrong,” says Simone (37), who has a nine-month-old daughter. According to the current legal situation in Switzerland, a pregnant woman goes to work until her waters burst or she goes into labor: the 14-week maternity leave is valid only after giving birth.
With this app Switzerland is alone in Europe. All EU and EFTA countries are aware of the possibility to take advantage of maternity leave before birth. The maximum subscription period ranges from two to eleven weeks. In some countries there is even a ban on working before birth, for example eight weeks in Austria and six weeks before birth in Germany.
early sick leave
Of course, women in Switzerland do not have superpowers. In this country, too, pregnant women fail before giving birth. A 2018 study on prenatal career breaks commissioned by the Federal Council showed that only one in six women worked until delivery.
No newer statistics available. However, a trend can be observed: while sick leave was the norm no later than two weeks before delivery, this is now much earlier.
Thomas Eggimann, 55, Secretary General of the Swiss Society of Gynecology and Obstetrics (SGGG), says: “I have a subjective feeling that pregnant women need time for themselves much sooner or that the work is too tiring.” Gynecologists also report increased demands among pregnant women, some of whom are pushing for doctor certification as early as week 20.
Rest time is important
Experts criticize the fact that women in Switzerland must actually work until giving birth. “From a professional point of view, it’s advisable to take sick leave four weeks before giving birth,” says Lucia Mikeler Knaack, 64, a self-employed midwife with 3,000 births experience and currently the highest Basel bid as regional president.
A longer rest period before birth is becoming increasingly important. “Pregnant women are more stressed today than they used to be. “There is no time in everyday life to prepare for birth and new life,” says the former president of the Swiss Midwife’s Association.
In the last weeks of pregnancy, many pregnant women become tired and have trouble sleeping. “People who are not mentally or physically ready for birth are more likely to have a longer or more difficult birth process, breastfeeding problems, or postpartum depression.”
“I wasn’t sick”
Anyone who speaks to women who are on sick leave more than two weeks before the appointment hears stories of relief and defiance. “I said to myself: It’s my right to focus on my baby and the upcoming birth,” says Simone, who is on 100 percent sick leave six weeks before the appointment. “I wasn’t sick myself but I always had to struggle with having a hard stomach.”
To reduce the risk of preterm labor and delivery, her doctor deleted her as a patient. At the beginning of pregnancy, the psychologist was sure that she would still work until the birth. “But I had to realize that pregnancy is difficult and exhausting. When the doctor suggested taking sick leave, I didn’t resist.”
Prenatal maternity protection in Switzerland?
“Sick leave leaves a bitter aftertaste for many women,” says midwife Mikeler Knaack. “It would be different if you said that every pregnant woman has the right to leave work at a certain time.”
A system change is unthinkable. You may even notice that something is moving. Cities like Lucerne, Biel and Zurich have decided this year to extend their employees’ maternity leave to two or three weeks before giving birth. Therefore, sick leave is no longer required for municipal employees there. Advances are pending in other cantons and cities.
There are companies that lead the way in the private sector as well. Anyone working at Novartis or Roche, for example, receives an additional four weeks of maternity leave – and can take this leave from four weeks before birth.
At the national level, the State Council last June rejected a proposal to request maternity leave three weeks before her due date. A similar motion is pending from National Assembly Member Flavia Wasserfallen (43, SP/BE).