What can you do if the employer pays too little wages without reason?
Was kann man tun, wenn die Arbeitgeberin oder der Arbeitgeber ohne Grund zu wenig Lohn ausbezahlt?
Correct answer: C
- A There are no legal options.Es gibt keine rechtlichen Möglichkeiten.
- B You can stop going to work until the end of the contract.Man kann bis zum Vertragsende nicht mehr zur Arbeit gehen.
- C You can go to the labour court.Man kann an das Arbeitsgericht gelangen.
- D You can report it to the police.Man kann Anzeige bei der Polizei machen.
Why
Too little pay is a dispute arising from the employment contract. You can claim the wage at the labour court.
Common mistakes
- D: You can report it to the police.
- Too little pay is usually not a criminal offence. The labour court is responsible, not the police.
- B: You can stop going to work until the end of the contract.
- Simply no longer going to work is risky, because you may breach the contract yourself. The right way is the labour court.
Topic
Sometimes there are disputes at work. For example, the employer pays too little, or dismisses someone without reason. First, you should talk to the employer and put your objections in writing. If that does not help, there are legal options. You do not simply have to accept such a dispute.
Living in Switzerland
Work
Sources
Last checked: September 2026
Question 172 of the official question list of the Canton of Zurich (Gemeindeamt, May 2025). Translation and explanation: Swiss Passport.