Anyone registered with the RAV (Regional Employment Centres) faces the same health risks as anyone else. But what happens if you get sick? Reporting an illness to the RAV is subject to strict requirements. If you do not comply with them, you risk losing your unemployment daily allowances.
In this article, you will learn what to keep in mind when reporting sick while unemployed and what obligations exist.
When and How Must You Report Sick Leave?
As soon as you are unfit for work, you must inform the RAV immediately. This means: on the first day of illness at the latest. You can usually do this by phone or email with your personal RAV advisor.
From the fourth day of illness, a doctor's certificate is mandatory. This must be submitted to your unemployment fund (ALK) by the deadline at the latest. In some cantons or with certain previous histories, the RAV may even require a medical certificate from the very first day.
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Illness and Unemployment Daily Allowance
If you are certified sick, the unemployment insurance (ALV) continues to pay your daily allowance for a maximum of 30 consecutive calendar days (so-called daily allowances during temporary lack of employability). In total, the claim is limited to 44 daily allowances per framework period.
If the illness lasts longer, daily sickness allowance insurance steps in in many cases – provided you have taken out such coverage. Mandatory healthcare insurance (basic insurance) does not cover loss of earnings. Here, it is worth checking your insurance coverage before or immediately upon becoming unemployed.
Job Application Obligations During Illness
A common misconception: "I'm sick, so I don't have to apply for jobs." That is not generally true.
If you are only sick short-term (e.g., flu for 5 days), the RAV usually expects you to still show your full number of job search activities at the end of the month. Only in the event of longer absences due to illness will the workload be reduced or suspended in consultation with your advisor.
Transparent communication is key here. Discuss with your advisor how many applications are realistic in the current month.
Keep an Overview with PARAT
The documentation requirements at the RAV are high – and when lying sick in bed, you don't want to wrestle with Excel spreadsheets. With PARAT RAV Tracking, you can efficiently record and structure your job search activities and export them at the end of the month as a clean ZIP archive for the Job-Room portal with a single click.
This way, you have a clear head to focus on recovery and won't fall behind on your proof of job search.
Conclusion
Illness does not protect you from obligations – at least not completely. Anyone who knows the rules regarding sick leave notifications and medical certificates at the RAV and communicates transparently avoids sanctions in the form of penalty days. Health comes first, but bureaucratic obligations must be taken care of in parallel.
