published23. August 2022, 04:45
Schweizer (26)“I work 200 percent in 3 jobs – my employer doesn’t know anything about it”
A 26-year-old Swiss also works in two restaurants in addition to his job – for fun, as he says. “I risk every day that it flies up,” he says.
He works full-time for a well-known Swiss company.
20 minutes/Simon Glauser
His employer knows nothing about his part-time jobs: “Every day I risk it being exposed. Then I could face termination.”
20min/Michael Scherrer
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A man (26) works full-time for a well-known Swiss company.
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In addition, he works for two companies in the catering sector.
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Overall, he works over 200 percent, the man says.
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According to Roger Rudolph, an expert in labor law and professor at the University of Zurich, such working hours violate labor law.
Little free time, hardly any vacation, above all work: For many young people, this does not sound like an ideal situation. A 26-year-old Swiss* sees it differently. He is employed full-time by a well-known Swiss company. For his protection, the 26-year-old would like 20 minutes not to mention the company name or the industry. In addition, he is employed hourly in two restaurants. “Overall, I work almost 200 percent. In June alone I worked around 330 hours, around 180 of them for my main employer.» He doesn’t know anything about his part-time jobs: “Every day I risk it being exposed. Then I could face termination.”
The 26-year-old is aware that he is doing something illegal. Nevertheless, he does not want to give up his sideline. «I work for the Swiss company in the mornings and in the evenings in the restaurant. It’s a good change for me.” Overall, after deductions, he earns up to 9,000 francs a month. He submits his three wage statements to the tax office every year. “I pay taxes as normal and also pay AHV contributions.”
Only 3 hours of sleep
He hardly needs any free time. “I enjoy working in the catering industry. I met my friends there.” Sleep is also secondary for the 26-year-old: “I sleep an average of three hours. If I get tired during the day, I might take another power nap.”
The Swiss justifies his work behavior with his plans for the future, among other things: “I feel able to work more than 100 percent. I’m also planning to emigrate when I’m 35. I want to earn and save enough money now so that I don’t have to do as much later.”
“The employee is threatened with dismissal”
According to Roger Rudolph, an expert in labor law and professor at the University of Zurich, such working hours violate labor law. There are various reasons for this: “According to Swiss labor law, the maximum working time limit is 45 to 50 hours per week. That applies to all activities overall.” In the present case, however, the working hours are far above the permitted working hours.
In addition, the 26-year-old would have to inform the employer – i.e. the well-known Swiss company – about his other jobs, according to Rudolph. “This is the only way the employer can intervene and create a legally compliant situation. The employee has a duty of loyalty to the company.”
Rudolph also explains that the employee must come to work well rested so that he can perform it properly. “That is highly questionable in the present case.” If the 26-year-old violates his duty to provide information or does not do his job properly because he is overwhelmed, the company can draw conclusions: “Then the employee is threatened with dismissal.”
* Name known to editors
2 full-time positions – 2 wages
Two jobs, two contracts, two wages: In the US it is fashionable to have two full-time jobswithout the superiors knowing. Especially during Corona, when working from home was possible in many places, many received several wages at the same time. According to a survey by “Resume Builder”, 69 percent of the 1,200 respondents in the USA had two jobs in autumn 2021. Most are part-time jobs, but 37 percent said they have two full-time jobs at the same time. And four out of ten double-timers say they earn more than $100,000 a year in both jobs. the NZZ was the first to report on the survey.
The fact that people work for several companies is also a trend in Switzerland, says HR expert Ursula Bergundthal. The Swiss have not gotten their second jobs in the home office like in the USA: But temporary jobs and freelance jobs are becoming more and more common in this country. “But you shouldn’t work more than 100 percent,” says Bergundthal. That is only okay in exceptional cases, for example if a self-employed person has to carry out several orders at short notice. The risk of burnout is also real.