Standortförderung Kanton Bern


	Well-trained staff are essential to every successful company. The overall productivity of the Swiss economy is the second-highest in the world. The staff are motivated and strikes are virtually unknown. Although the level of wages seems relatively high, total labor costs are significantly lower than in competing economic areas. Ancillary wage costs and social security costs are low. Employees’ own contributions support the Swiss social security system to a considerable extent. Consequently employers’ social security costs remain moderate.

Swiss labor law contains fewer regulations than the laws which apply in EU states. The latitude for stipulating terms is therefore significantly greater and jurisprudence is generally very liberal. Relations between employers and employees are governed by employment contract law, the Code of Obligations (OR) and collective employment agreements (wage agreements).

The employer normally pays 13 months’ salary. The employee’s share of social security contributions is deducted directly from gross wages. The working week is between 40 and 45 hours, usually 42 hours. Employees are entitled to 20 days’ vacation per year, plus between 9 and 12 statutory public holidays. Unless otherwise agreed, the notice required for termination is one month in the first year of employment, two months from the second to the ninth year of employment and thereafter three months.