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EMPLOYMENT

Working in Switzerland: A weekly roundup of the latest job news

Find out all the latest information related to jobs in Switzerland with The Local's weekly roundup of relevant news.

Published: 18 August 2021 12:32 CEST
Working in Switzerland: A weekly roundup of the latest job news
Women working at one cantonal bank will have shorter maternity leave. Photo by Kristina Paukshtite from Pexels

Will the economic upswing bring greater wages? 

As Switzerland’s economy is on the upswing, several professional organisations and unions are calling for higher salaries for sectors most impacted by the pandemic.

“Thanks to the exceptional dedication and great flexibility they have shown, but at the cost of the loss of income they have suffered, the employees have helped the country overcome the crisis. It is time to involve them in the recovery by increasing their wages”, said Gabriel Fischer, the head of economic policy at Travail.Suisse, the umbrella association of employees in Switzerland.

However, wage increases may not be possible in all sectors.

In the hospitality industry, which was most affected by Covid restrictions “salary increases will be rare. We can only hope that the branch will emerge stronger, so that gradually wages and working conditions can improve ”, noted Urs Masshardt, managing director of the Swiss Hotel & Gastro Union.

In the health sector, wages have stagnated much for years and in retail, “pay has been chronically too low or a long time”, according to  Mathias Regotz, head of contractual policy at the Syna union. “Salary increases of 3 to 4 percent are mandatory in these sectors.”

On the other hand, the construction sector has emerged largely unscathed from the crisis, and much of the industry has already recovered. In these sectors, wage increases are possible, according to Travail.Suisse.

Brave new world: job interviews conducted by robots

Many Swiss companies have a new twist on the concept of “Human” Resources: candidates for a job must first pass an interview with the computer.

This is how it works: an applicant receives an email with an invitation for an interview, which they can accept by clicking on a link.

The questions are asked in writing, and the program automatically records the answers. The interview lasts just a few minutes — all without a human counterpart.

This kind of interview is now standard at companies like Swiss Federal Railways, Migros, Credit Suisse, UBS, Swiss Post, and other firms, as it is less time-consuming than human-to-human interactions.

However, this system is only used to pre-select the candidates. Once they pass the “robot test”, the applicants are invited to meet a real person for a follow-up interview.

Almost all large companies pay women fairly

The vast majority of Swiss companies have a fair compensation policy between male and female employees.

This assessment is based on salary analysis  by the University of St. Gallen that examined companies with more than 100 employees.

It found that 97 percent of surveyed companies comply with the law on equal pay.

Another study, carried out by Comp-on Compensation Consultants, came up with a rate of 95 percent.

Only a few systematic deviations from the federal rules were discovered.

And yet… equality can also backfire

Schaffhausen’s Kantonalbank is reducing maternity leave for female employees: like men, women now receive the minimum required by law — the usual 16 weeks is reduced to 14.

According to the bank, this is to ensure “equal treatment”.

“The legislature has now provided for paternity leave. As a result, the length of maternity leave and paternity leave have been brought into line with the legal requirements, Therefore, in the interests of equal treatment, it is right to adjust the length of maternity leave to 14 weeks”, the bank explained.

READ MORE: How does paternity leave work in Switzerland – and who can claim it?

Did you know…that median monthly wage in Switzerland is 6,538 francs?

Salary platform Lohncomputer lists average monthly earnings estimates culled from various wage surveys.

Here are just a few examples:

Lawyer: 9,300 francs
Accountant: 8,125 francs
Teacher: 7,292 francs
Bank employee: 6,750
Architect: 6,250 francs
Nurse : 5,667 francs
Carpenter: 5,150 francs
Hairdresser: 4,375 francs

Other salary estimates can be found here.

Useful links

Looking for a job in Switzerland or just want a little more information about working here, then check out the following links. 

Working in Switzerland: A weekly roundup of the latest job news

EXPLAINED: What cross-border workers should know about taxation in Switzerland

Who can continue to work from home in Switzerland?

An essential guide to Swiss work permits

The jobs roundup is new addition and we’d welcome any feedback or suggestions for areas it should cover. Please email us at [email protected]

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For members

GENEVA NEWS AND GUIDES

‘Things have changed’: Can you get a job in Geneva without speaking French?

Geneva must be up there when picturing an international city where language is no barrier. Does this hold true for those looking for a job? 

Published: 15 March 2024 14:23 CET
Updated: 23 March 2024 08:42 CET
'Things have changed': Can you get a job in Geneva without speaking French?

Organisations such as the International Red Cross, the World Health Organisation, and the United Nations are either based in Geneva or have a significant presence there. 

Furthermore, the Geneva region has a population of over half a million, making it an ideal base for global businesses to reach Swiss (and European) markets. 

There is no doubt that the city is a centre of international diplomacy and business and has been for decades. 

Having said that, how hard is it to find a job in Switzerland’s largest francophone city? Or indeed anywhere in Suisse Romande in general? Do you have a chance of securing a role without French language skills? 

The expert view

Recruiters think you might find it challenging if you’re not planning to work for one of the major international bodies. 

Anthony Caffon, Director of Finance at Michael Page, a significant regional recruiter, told The Local: “From our perspective, as a large operator in West Switzerland, only a few roles don’t require candidates to speak French. 

“A few years ago, there was indeed a shortage of skills in the market, and coupled with major multinational companies located here, companies were open to employing non-French speakers. 

“We now notice a change. French is required in 90 percent of the roles we recruit outside international organisations. 

“Organisations would only take on non-French speakers in some highly technical roles, for which there is absolutely no local talent pool,” he said.

‘It was critical for wider job opportunities’

However, when surveyed, readers of The Local had differing perspectives on whether not knowing French was a hindrance to searching for a job in Geneva. 

Sofia, an American, responded: “It depends on the job and sector. French is desirable but not required for international organisations, NGOs, and many private companies such as EA Games or financial companies like Barclays.”

However, she noted that speaking French became more essential when settling in the country.

“It was critical for my Swiss naturalisation, but also to have a wider spectrum of job opportunities and better working relationships.”

Generally, to apply for Swiss citizenship in the canton of Geneva, one must achieve French oral B1 and written A2, as set in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). 

Michael, who lives near Lausanne, agreed with Sofia, telling The Local: “It depends if you work for a multinational or a local company.” 

“If you work for a multinational or Swiss company, you need French. But you can generally use English in the office at Nestle, BAT, PMI, Novartis, or WHO.”

Another respondent, Phil, believed that speaking French would assist in job searching. 

He stated, “I think it depends on your industry. If you work in the pharmaceutical area, then just English is fine.

“If you speak French, however, I think it’s easier to understand the application process and job descriptions.”

A Briton, Katie, thought speaking French could also help smooth the way when starting a new role in Geneva. 

She responded: “It shows you are curious about where you live. It helps build relationships with colleagues and, of course, for some jobs, it is needed.”

‘You can get by fine’

Those seeking to work in Geneva who don’t speak French shouldn’t fret just yet. 

An anonymous respondent from Ireland told The Local: “Some basic French is needed not to look utterly dysfunctional in casual social settings, but if the business works in English, then that is generally sufficient. 

“Once you can complete the technical requirements of your job well, you can get by fine,” they said.

“Some employers will specify that French and English are requirements on the job listings, even if you only need English to do the job. 

“Not having any French can put people off applying for many openings when, in fact, they might be fine applying anyway.”

What have you experienced finding a job in Geneva? Did you need French skills? Let us know in the comments. 

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