Executive Summary

On 27 May 2026, the Swiss Federal Council adopted a revision of the Federal Personnel Ordinance that implements cost-saving measures approved earlier. The changes include a reduction in vacation entitlements for employees aged 60 and over, as well as a reduction in loyalty bonuses from the 20th year of service onwards. At the same time, transitional provisions for the adjusted salary system are being established and administrative simplifications are being made. Most regulations come into force on 1 July 2026, while key cost-saving measures take effect on 1 January 2027.

Persons

  • Swiss Federal Council (collegiate body; decision-maker)

Topics

  • Federal personnel law
  • Relief Package 2027
  • Federal Administration Salary System
  • Labour Market Policy

Clarus Lead

The revision concretizes the Relief Package 2027 adopted in June 2025 and signals a structural reorientation of the Federal Administration as an employer. By aligning with salary systems of other public and private employers, the Confederation is repositioning itself in the competition for skilled workers – while simultaneously using cost-saving measures to reduce operating costs. The abolition of the RAV registration requirement indicates a pragmatic change of course: the Federal Council acknowledges that the regulation in force since 2015 has failed to achieve its purpose.

Detailed Summary

The Federal Personnel Ordinance is being adjusted in several dimensions. Vacation Entitlements: Federal administration employees will receive fewer vacation days from their 60th birthday onwards from 2027 – initially a one-day reduction (2027–2028), then three days from 2029 onwards. This regulation affects a central benefit of employment conditions and directly contributes to the planned savings of the relief package. Loyalty Bonuses: The amount is halved from one to half a month's salary from the 20th year of service onwards, directly impacting long-term employees.

In parallel, the Federal Council is modernizing administrative structures. The abolition of the pre-registration requirement with the Regional Employment Centres (RAV) – a regulation from 2015 – is justified on the grounds that it has led to implementation problems in application processes. The reporting requirement for domestic preference remains in place. To improve the attractiveness of university internships, the deadline between completion of studies and internship application is extended from 12 to 18 months. Further adjustments concern the salary entitlements of military administration employees during voluntary service and a modernization of paternity leave in accordance with "marriage for all". Legal clarifications regarding exemption from official secrecy round out the reform.

Key Statements

  • The Federal Council is implementing cost-saving measures of the Relief Package 2027 through reduction of vacation entitlements and loyalty bonuses
  • The salary system is being aligned with other employers; administrative hurdles (RAV registration requirement) are being removed
  • At the same time, internships are being made more attractive and family law is being modernized

Critical Questions

  1. Evidence/Data Quality: What empirical data demonstrates that the RAV registration requirement since 2015 has "failed to achieve its purpose"? Were application processes systematically analysed?

  2. Conflicts of Interest: To what extent do the cost-saving measures (vacation reduction, loyalty bonus reduction) stand in tension with the stated goal of making the Federal Administration more attractive as an employer?

  3. Causality: Does extending the internship deadline from 12 to 18 months actually lead to higher attractiveness, or are there alternative explanations for insufficient applications?

  4. Feasibility: How will the staggered vacation reductions (1 day 2027–2028, then 3 days from 2029) be communicated and received by older employees?

  5. Side Effects: Could the halving of loyalty bonuses from the 20th year of service onwards lead to increased turnover of experienced professionals?

  6. Consistency: How consistent is the modernization of paternity leave with the simultaneous cost-saving objectives?

Source Directory

Primary Source: State Visit Poland – Final Federal Council Conferences – https://www.news.admin.ch/de/newnsb/GuBukjoZILV2IIfrAMoZK

Verification Status: ✓ 27.05.2026

This text was created with the support of an AI model. Editorial Responsibility: clarus.news | Fact-Check: 27.05.2026