DON’T MISS
IamExpat Job BoardIamExpat HousingIamExpat Webinars
Newsletters
EXPAT INFO
CAREER
HOUSING
EDUCATION
LIFESTYLE
EXPAT SERVICES
NEWS & ARTICLES
Home
Career
Swiss news & articles
Swiss companies consider a return to full home working to save energy
Never miss a thing!Sign up for our weekly newsletters with important news stories, expat events and special offers.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy

Swiss companies consider a return to full home working to save energy

Never miss a thing!Sign up for our weekly newsletters with important news stories, expat events and special offers.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy
or
follow us for regular updates:

Related Stories

Why are the Swiss so good at making watches?Why are the Swiss so good at making watches?
Why does Switzerland have fewer strikes than other countries?Why does Switzerland have fewer strikes than other countries?
Sizeable number of Swiss companies underpay their staff, report findsSizeable number of Swiss companies underpay their staff, report finds
How do working hours in Switzerland compare to the rest of Europe?How do working hours in Switzerland compare to the rest of Europe?
Amazon set to expand business in Switzerland, report revealsAmazon set to expand business in Switzerland, report reveals
6 things expats in Switzerland need to know about in July 20226 things expats in Switzerland need to know about in July 2022
Major changes in Switzerland in 2024: What expats need to knowMajor changes in Switzerland in 2024: What expats need to know
Is it really illegal to flush your toilet in Switzerland after 10pm?Is it really illegal to flush your toilet in Switzerland after 10pm?
For expats of all colours, shapes and sizes

Explore
Expat infoCareerHousingEducationLifestyleExpat servicesNews & articles
About us
IamExpat MediaAdvertisePost a jobContact usSitemapRSS feeds
More IamExpat
IamExpat Job BoardIamExpat HousingWebinarsNewsletters
Privacy
Terms of usePrivacy policyCookiesAvoiding scams

Never miss a thing!Sign up for expat events, news & offers, delivered once a week.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy


© 2025 IamExpat Media B.V.
© 2025 IamExpat Media B.V.
Oct 3, 2022

As Switzerland braces for the possibility of energy shortages this winter, and the government announces its plan for how people can save power, a new report by Beobachter has revealed that many international companies and domestic businesses are debating a return to full-time remote work.

Swiss businesses may return to remote work to save power

The report found that in the event that authorities ration, quota or restrict power usage for companies - a measure threatened by the government if current voluntary rules fail - businesses will begin to look at alternatives to the office. Pharmaceutical giant Novartis told Beobachter that it was considering a return to hybrid and remote working models for workers, alongside reducing the heating inside their buildings.

Speaking anonymously to the paper, other companies said they would make their decision on what to do closer to the time, with many already making estimates as to how much energy they could save if they leave offices empty, and how it would impact their bottom line. However, many also made the point that it may not be enough, as the heating and energy savings made by sending office workers home would not be as significant as if, for example, a logistics hub were to shut down. 

Remote working needs to be properly reimbursed, say experts

Speaking to Beobachter, employment expert Katharina Siegrist said that, as there is no legislation on the matter, companies are free to switch their workers to the “remote office” whenever they like. "In exceptional situations, workers should accept temporary teleworking," she noted.

However, Siegrist said that remote work needs to be properly reimbursed and compensated. "The best thing to do is to establish in advance, in a written agreement, the definition of a home office and the activities related to it... [for example] entrepreneurs cannot pass energy costs onto their employees," she concluded.