Does Switzerland have a 4 Day Work Week?
Learn about the latest developments in Switzerland’s 4 day work week trials from 4 Day Week Global’s Swiss National Partner Hailperin Consulting.
"I already have a 4 day week," a friend said to me recently. This refers to the part-time position at 80%. However, the 4 day week in Switzerland also means shorter working hours with the same pay.
What is the average working hours in Switzerland currently?
With a 42-hour working week and four weeks' holiday, Switzerland has the longest working week in Europe.
Our northern neighbors have a 40 hours and six weeks' holiday and in the west it's only 35 hours a week in addition to the six weeks' holiday.
What we have in common is that we spread our working hours over 5 days.
How much work does Switzerland do in comparison to its European neighbors?
We work a lot in Switzerland. If the ratio of the total volume of labor to the population is considered, this results in a working week of 22.8 hours in Switzerland.
This is a top position in Europe - the average across all countries is 19.5 hours.
It is therefore no surprise that the first cantonal holiday laws were not introduced until the 1940s. In 1966, the federal government decided on two weeks' holiday. This was increased to four weeks in 1984. Nothing has happened since then.
Several initiatives for a 4 day week in Switzerland
There were several initiatives in favor of the 4 day week in Switzerland.
In 2001, the popular initiative entitled "In favor of shorter working hours" was put to the vote. This was rejected.
There were several motions in the National Council, the last of which was suggested by Tamara Funiciello in 2023. This was also rejected by the National Council.
Last but not least, Syndicom brought the 35-hour week to the table in negotiations with Swisscom in 2022. This was also rejected.
Unia is currently calling for a reduction in working hours under the motto "More time to live".
Even if the structural approaches to the 4-day week in Switzerland have not yet borne fruit, individual companies are not deterred from introducing the 4 day week in Switzerland.
They benefit from rising revenue and a lot of free media attention, while the issue of a shortage of skilled labor makes them shrug.
What Swiss companies work a 4 day week?
Whether digital agency seerow AG, marketing company Addvanto, oven manufacturer Glutform Rüegg AG or electronics specialist SH Elektro Telematik GmbH in Spiez, they have all made the 4 day week a reality in Switzerland.
But the 4 day week is not only available in German-speaking Switzerland. The personnel service provider ValJob, with branches even in France, lives the 4 day week, as does the company Assymba, which supports SMEs with IT.
Is a 4 day week realistic in Switzerland?
The question is interesting - does the economy in Switzerland work with a 4 day week? Until then, some companies will probably still want to take advantage of the benefits.
The fact that the 4 day week will also be piloted in companies in France, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, Norway and Germany in 2024 increases the pressure on Switzerland and at the same time creates a level of comparability that is rarely available on a continent.
Would you like your company to take part in the first Swiss pilot study on the 4 day week?
The non-profit organization 4 Day Week Global has conducted several pilot studies on the 4 day week worldwide with local support.
Now Switzerland is joining in: In collaboration with 4 Day Week Global, the Zurich-based consultancy firm Hailperin and the Bern University of Applied Sciences (BFH), the first pilot study will be launched this autumn. The study lasts six months.
We are looking for companies to take part in this pioneering study. You will be accompanied and advised by our experts from practice and science.
Contact Veit, the National Partner for the 4 day week in Switzerland, to get started on your work-time transformation journey and to unlock the benefits of reduced-hours working for your business.
How can I contribute to the 4 day week movement?
So, how can we ensure the 4 day work week becomes routine over radical? We’re a non-profit organization looking to bring the 4 day week to as many people across the globe as possible. Our goal is to create a million years of new free time through 4 day week trials and transitions.
Would you like to sponsor us on this journey? Donate as little as $2 per month to become a part of this movement for a 4 Day World.
How can I improve my business with a 4 day week?
We offer support for businesses looking to make the shift to reduced-hour working in several ways:
1. Our Foundation Course
Our Foundation Course is designed for business leaders, consultants and entrepreneurs looking to understand how to implement a 4 day week in their organization, or to support the implementation of one in another organization.
We teach you through six video lecture modules, using the 100-80-100™ model.
2. Our Pilot Programs
We run 4 day week pilots using the 100-80-100™ principle across the globe. You can trial a 4 day week alongside other organizations in your geography. There are many pilots happening in various countries across the world.
Sign up here to register your interest in being a part of one of our pilots and we will let you know when the pilot in your country is kicking off! Alternatively, we have two global pilots happening in 2024, in March and September.
3. One-on-One Consulting
This is for larger organizations who want bespoke one-on-one support throughout the 4 day week planning and implementation process. We will provide you with world-leading experts in reducing working hours to help you on this journey.
