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S U B S C R I B E
WRS stories about workplace
18.4 percent gender pay gap a 'scandal'
Thursday, 7 March, 2013
Women in Switzerland earn on average 18.4 percent less than men, according to federal statistics. That’s despite a rise of women in employment from 68 percent in 1991 to 76 percent in 2011. The World Economic Forum says the gender gap here is worse than in Mozambique and the Philippines and those campaigning for better equality have dubbed today Equal Pay Day. The group behind the campaign is Business and Professional Women Switzerland. WRS’s Dave Goodman spoke to the group’s president Monique Ryser:
Thursday, 7 March, 2013
Women in Switzerland earn on average 18.4 percent less than men, according to federal statistics. That’s despite a rise of women in employment from 68 percent in 1991 to 76 percent in 2011. The World Economic Forum says the gender gap here is worse than in Mozambique and the Philippines and those campaigning for better equality have dubbed today Equal Pay Day. The group behind the campaign is Business and Professional Women Switzerland. WRS’s Dave Goodman spoke to the group’s president Monique Ryser:
Edging toward minimum wage law
Tuesday, 5 March, 2013
The campaign for a minimum wage in Switzerland gained a boost at the weekend when the canton Jura voted to introduce minimum wages in every sector. The canton of Neuchâtel already voted in favour of introducing a minimum wage in 2011, and similar initiatives are underway in Valais and Ticino. At a national level, a minimum wage initiative was introduced in 2012 and a vote’s expected later this year—so what are the chances of it passing? WRS’s Vincent Landon talked to Hans Hartmann, a spokesman for Unia, the largest trade union in Switzerland with more than 200,000 members and began by asking him about the significance of the Jura vote:
Tuesday, 5 March, 2013
The campaign for a minimum wage in Switzerland gained a boost at the weekend when the canton Jura voted to introduce minimum wages in every sector. The canton of Neuchâtel already voted in favour of introducing a minimum wage in 2011, and similar initiatives are underway in Valais and Ticino. At a national level, a minimum wage initiative was introduced in 2012 and a vote’s expected later this year—so what are the chances of it passing? WRS’s Vincent Landon talked to Hans Hartmann, a spokesman for Unia, the largest trade union in Switzerland with more than 200,000 members and began by asking him about the significance of the Jura vote:
Do mothers need more maternity leave?
Tuesday, 5 February, 2013
Women are allowed 14 weeks’ maternity leave by law in Switzerland but recent figures released by the Federal Security Office show that almost two thirds of women aged 20 to 40 took longer than the basic minimum. So should mothers be given more time off or is Switzerland’s policy already generous enough? WRS’s Jo Fahy reports:
Tuesday, 5 February, 2013
Women are allowed 14 weeks’ maternity leave by law in Switzerland but recent figures released by the Federal Security Office show that almost two thirds of women aged 20 to 40 took longer than the basic minimum. So should mothers be given more time off or is Switzerland’s policy already generous enough? WRS’s Jo Fahy reports:
SBB gets on board with flextime for staff
Friday, 1 February, 2013
Flextime. Many people are already convinced it’s good for productivity, and it could also be the way to clear up those traffic jams and packed trains. The Swiss Federal Railways thinks so. Along with Swisscom, it will be getting over 200 staff members to commute at off-peak hours for the next couple of months. The pilot project is called WorkAnywhere. WRS’s Lucas Chambers reports:
Friday, 1 February, 2013
Flextime. Many people are already convinced it’s good for productivity, and it could also be the way to clear up those traffic jams and packed trains. The Swiss Federal Railways thinks so. Along with Swisscom, it will be getting over 200 staff members to commute at off-peak hours for the next couple of months. The pilot project is called WorkAnywhere. WRS’s Lucas Chambers reports:
Climbing unemployment 'demoralizing'
Tuesday, 22 January, 2013
There are 197 million unemployed across the world. Nearly 40 million people have given up searching for work. And the under-25 age group is being hardest hit both in Europe and across the globe. These are just some of the findings of the Geneva-based International Labour Organization’s Global Employment Trends report. So what is the ILO doing about it? WRS’s Tony Ganzer spoke to Director General Guy Ryder:
Tuesday, 22 January, 2013
There are 197 million unemployed across the world. Nearly 40 million people have given up searching for work. And the under-25 age group is being hardest hit both in Europe and across the globe. These are just some of the findings of the Geneva-based International Labour Organization’s Global Employment Trends report. So what is the ILO doing about it? WRS’s Tony Ganzer spoke to Director General Guy Ryder:
Pressure mounts for Swiss minimum wage
Tuesday, 8 January, 2013
In 2013 Switzerland still doesn’t have a minimum wage. Though some sectors have come to agreements on specific wages for specific jobs, there’s no consensus on exactly how much a working person needs to live. The Swiss Federation of Trade Unions says the minimum amount a person in full time employment should earn is CHF 4,000 per month before tax. It collected enough signatures to force a public vote which will probably happen next year. Parliament meanwhile will debate the minimum wage initiative this spring. WRS’s Jo Fahy spoke to Daniel Lampart, chief economist at the Swiss Federation of Trade Unions:
Tuesday, 8 January, 2013
In 2013 Switzerland still doesn’t have a minimum wage. Though some sectors have come to agreements on specific wages for specific jobs, there’s no consensus on exactly how much a working person needs to live. The Swiss Federation of Trade Unions says the minimum amount a person in full time employment should earn is CHF 4,000 per month before tax. It collected enough signatures to force a public vote which will probably happen next year. Parliament meanwhile will debate the minimum wage initiative this spring. WRS’s Jo Fahy spoke to Daniel Lampart, chief economist at the Swiss Federation of Trade Unions:
Why more women than men out of work in Switzerland
Thursday, 16 August, 2012
Why are there more women unemployed in Switzerland than men? Recent figures suggest 4.4 percent of women are out of work compared to 3.7 percent of men. So does more need to be done to tackle the issue? WRS’s Dave Goodman spoke to Giovanni Ferro-Lootzi, co-director of the Employment Observatory of the University of Geneva and began by asking why there’s a difference:
Thursday, 16 August, 2012
Why are there more women unemployed in Switzerland than men? Recent figures suggest 4.4 percent of women are out of work compared to 3.7 percent of men. So does more need to be done to tackle the issue? WRS’s Dave Goodman spoke to Giovanni Ferro-Lootzi, co-director of the Employment Observatory of the University of Geneva and began by asking why there’s a difference:
Dateline CH: Why Swiss really said 'no' to more vacation
Thursday, 12 April, 2012
The BBC’s Imogen Foulkes comments on why she thinks the Swiss really voted against an initiative to increase the amount of statutory annual leave to six weeks from the current legal minimum of four. She says it’s because actually, the Swiss don’t really work that hard anyhow:
Thursday, 12 April, 2012
The BBC’s Imogen Foulkes comments on why she thinks the Swiss really voted against an initiative to increase the amount of statutory annual leave to six weeks from the current legal minimum of four. She says it’s because actually, the Swiss don’t really work that hard anyhow:
Strong work ethic leads Swiss to reject more time off
Monday, 12 March, 2012
So why are the Swiss not turned on by more time off? The Swiss have also voted on numerous occasions in the last 30 years against extra statutory holidays and fewer working hours in a week. WRS’s Dave Goodman talks to Hans Ulrich Jost, an honorary professor of history at the University of Lausanne:
Monday, 12 March, 2012
So why are the Swiss not turned on by more time off? The Swiss have also voted on numerous occasions in the last 30 years against extra statutory holidays and fewer working hours in a week. WRS’s Dave Goodman talks to Hans Ulrich Jost, an honorary professor of history at the University of Lausanne:
Bern won't stop employers who pay foreign workers in euros
Wednesday, 21 September, 2011
The National Council continues debate this morning on the government’s 800 million franc economic aid package. It comes after marathon debates yesterday and votes on dozens of proposals to respond to the economic situation caused by the strong franc—including two motions to ban the practice of paying foreign employees in euros. They were rejected by both the Federal Council and MPs. Unions warn the practice could pit cross-border employees against those living in Switzerland. WRS’s Jordan Davis reports:
Wednesday, 21 September, 2011
The National Council continues debate this morning on the government’s 800 million franc economic aid package. It comes after marathon debates yesterday and votes on dozens of proposals to respond to the economic situation caused by the strong franc—including two motions to ban the practice of paying foreign employees in euros. They were rejected by both the Federal Council and MPs. Unions warn the practice could pit cross-border employees against those living in Switzerland. WRS’s Jordan Davis reports:
The Connectors: Balancing work and life as an expat
Thursday, 8 September, 2011
The Connectors discuss whether or not it is harder for expats to achieve a balance due to the demands of work, family and being part of a global working culture that is full of cultural and time differences:
Thursday, 8 September, 2011
The Connectors discuss whether or not it is harder for expats to achieve a balance due to the demands of work, family and being part of a global working culture that is full of cultural and time differences:
Firms raise workers' hours due to strong franc
Monday, 5 September, 2011
Swiss exporters have been complaining for months that the strong franc is squeezing their margins. And more and more of them are now putting the squeeze on employees by asking them to work longer hours. Employers say they need to increase productivity. But trade unions worry the currency woes are simply an excuse. WRS’s Lucas Chambers reports:
Monday, 5 September, 2011
Swiss exporters have been complaining for months that the strong franc is squeezing their margins. And more and more of them are now putting the squeeze on employees by asking them to work longer hours. Employers say they need to increase productivity. But trade unions worry the currency woes are simply an excuse. WRS’s Lucas Chambers reports:
Kids in Mind: Keeping the family connection as a working parent
Monday, 6 June, 2011
Child expert Rachel Melville-Thomas discusses how to make the most out of limited time with kids when both parents have to earn a living. She says even if children tell their parents they don’t mind when parents are away from home, in fact, they do. That’s especially true when parents have to travel for work. Rachel says it’s important to acknowledge kids’ true feelings and not pretend everything will be okay. Regarding childcare, she advises parents whenever possible to keep the same person to look after kids:
Monday, 6 June, 2011
Child expert Rachel Melville-Thomas discusses how to make the most out of limited time with kids when both parents have to earn a living. She says even if children tell their parents they don’t mind when parents are away from home, in fact, they do. That’s especially true when parents have to travel for work. Rachel says it’s important to acknowledge kids’ true feelings and not pretend everything will be okay. Regarding childcare, she advises parents whenever possible to keep the same person to look after kids:
It's the Law: Working as a trainee in Switzerland
Monday, 30 May, 2011
Switzerland has agreements with a number of countries that allow young, qualified, recently-graduated professionals the opportunity to continue their training on the job. However, there are specific Swiss rules regarding who is qualified, how much they are paid, and who takes care of the paperwork. Stéphanie Fuld, from BCCC Attorneys-at-Law in Geneva, sorts out the details:
Monday, 30 May, 2011
Switzerland has agreements with a number of countries that allow young, qualified, recently-graduated professionals the opportunity to continue their training on the job. However, there are specific Swiss rules regarding who is qualified, how much they are paid, and who takes care of the paperwork. Stéphanie Fuld, from BCCC Attorneys-at-Law in Geneva, sorts out the details:
Men want less work, more family time
Tuesday, 15 February, 2011
Achieving a work/family balance is a challenge, especially if you’re a working parent. A new study shows that 90 percent of men surveyed want to cut their hours—despite a lower paycheck and the possible negative effects on career advancement. WRS’s Jo Fahy reports:
Tuesday, 15 February, 2011
Achieving a work/family balance is a challenge, especially if you’re a working parent. A new study shows that 90 percent of men surveyed want to cut their hours—despite a lower paycheck and the possible negative effects on career advancement. WRS’s Jo Fahy reports:
