Working Hours in Switzerland: A Balancing Act between Tradition and Modernity

The traditional five-day workweek in Switzerland has been a longstanding practice among the population, but its popularity is now being challenged. Many companies are introducing a four-day workweek with the same salary to motivate their employees. In contrast, Greece recently passed legislation allowing some workers to opt for a six-day workweek to address a shortage of skilled workers. This raises the question of whether such a measure could be relevant for Switzerland.

While Swiss labor law does not require a permit for Sunday work and considers Saturday as a regular working day, there is no legal barrier to working on Saturdays as in Greece. However, the Swiss employers’ association does not advocate for widespread Saturday work as they believe other measures like better integrating mothers and pensioners into the labor market are more effective in addressing the shortage of skilled workers.

The concept of the five-day workweek originated in America during the early 20th century and was gradually adopted by Switzerland. However, many companies maintained a six-day workweek until wages increased and leisure time became more valued, eventually leading to the acceptance of the five-day workweek in Switzerland.

In recent years, flexibility in work schedules has become more common with many workers opting for part-time arrangements. While most industries still adhere to the five-day workweek, there has been an increase in flexible working time models that allow employees to have more control over their schedules. Some industries like construction are even seeing an increase in Saturday work due to the shortage of skilled workers. Overall, it seems that our concept of working hours continues to evolve as we adapt to changing economic and social dynamics.

In conclusion, while there are different approaches taken by countries around the world when it comes to working hours, Switzerland remains committed to providing its citizens with flexibility and balance between their personal and professional lives.