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Excellent labor market
Alongside renowned international Swiss companies
such as ABB, Credit Suisse, UBS or Swiss Re, a remarkably high
number of foreign companies including General Motors, Google,
IBM, Kraft Foods and Microsoft do business in the Greater Zurich
Area. This is no coincidence, as the availability of
top-qualified, highly productive and motivated workers for all
corporate functions and a flexible, sparingly regulated
employment market are keys to business success.
Skilled workforce
in all fields
Employees in the Greater Zurich Area are
practically guaranteed to be multilingual, have international
experience, an excellent education, and the motivation to
deliver top performance. Renowned universities like the ETH
Zürich and the University of
Zürich rank high in international comparisons. Universities of
Applied Sciences and numerous specialized
advanced technical colleges ensure a steady influx of
well-trained professionals to the
economic region’s talent pool.
Attractive place to live and work for
international top management
Zürich has had the highest quality of life in the
world for years which is why exceedingly qualified workers from
all over the world are quite happy to move to the Greater Zurich
Area. First-rate salaries, low taxes and of course the large,
closely networked international business community ensure that
the best minds will want to stay in the Greater Zurich Area for
the long term.
From Switzerland, top managers can easily be recruited all over
the world. Unrestricted freedom of movement and residence has
existed between Switzerland and the EU since June 2007. This
means that companies in the Greater Zurich Area can recruit
professionals from all over Europe without restrictions.
 Residence/Work
Permits for Switzerland
Europe’s best cost-benefit ratio for
employers
Long working hours (standard: 42 hours a week),
high productivity, a strong work ethic and non-wage costs which
are low compared with other countries result in an excellent
cost-benefit ratio for employers.
Wages are either regulated by collective agreements or
negotiated directly between employer and employee on an
individual basis. The legislator refrains from strict
regulations in favor of a liberal business order.
Switzerland's social security system puts moderate financial
strain from social insurance on employers. Because the Swiss
system places a great emphasis on individual responsibility, the
total burden of taxes and social security contributions is very
moderate compared to other countries in Europe and the world.
Cost
Benefit: Labor Costs
Liberal labor laws, flexible employment
market
Employers and employees reap the benefits of a
splendidly functioning job market in Switzerland. Industrial
peace, social stability and contentment are the result of
Europe’s most liberal and least regulatory labor laws. And
because there is a tradition of good social partnership, there
are virtually no strikes.
Some 40% of private-sector employees are governed by a
collective agreement – contracts negotiated between employers or
their lobby and the industry unions. Employers and employees are
free to choose whether they wish to join such lobbies and
unions.
SECO
– State Secretariat for Economic Affairs
FSO
– Federal Statistical Office
Periods of notice and vacation allotment
Unless otherwise agreed, the period of notice for
terminating employment is one month in the first year of
employment, two months from the second to the ninth year of
employment and three months thereafter.
The minimum annual number of paid vacation days is four weeks or
20 days per year. Employees under 21 years old are entitled to
25 days. However, many collective and regular employment
contracts provide a higher vacation allotment, as for example
generally 25 days paid vacation for employees of the age 50 and
onwards. The employee continues to receive full payment during
vacation. Although common in many other European countries, in
Switzerland employers do not grant any additional vacation
bonuses.
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