Staff working from home in Switzerland may soon be able to work for more than 17 hours a day, under new plans being debated by the government. The proposal would also see Sunday working rules scrapped for remote staff.

Remote working remains popular in Switzerland

The plan, set to be debated by lawmakers following the summer recess, would significantly loosen the rules around working hours for remote staff. The latest data from the Federal Statistical Office suggests that 38,4 percent of employees in Switzerland still work from home at least occasionally.

Under the current rules, workers in Switzerland are required to do their work within a 14-hour window each day. This means that someone who starts work at 7am is not allowed to work past 9pm. 

Maximum hours for remote staff would be extended under new plans

If the change goes ahead, those working from home in Switzerland will be permitted to work for 17 hours each day without facing any penalty. While the rules on daily or weekly maximum hours stated in work contracts would remain in place, the change is designed to give remote workers more flexibility to dip in and out of work throughout the day.

For instance, someone who is required to work eight hours a day would be able to work from 7am to 1pm, then take a break to run errands or do chores before returning to work at 8pm, concluding work at 10pm. The change would also scrap Switzerland’s rigid Sunday working rules for hybrid employees, permitting them to work on the day without having to apply for a permit.

Supporters say the plans give more freedom to Swiss workers

The proposal was originally submitted by FDP. The Liberals before the COVID pandemic, but is expected to be debated and voted on in the National Council in the coming weeks. The party argued that the plan would give remote workers greater flexibility to manage their own time around other commitments, such as admin tasks, sports and childcare.

Speaking to 20 Minuten, FDP president Thierry Burkhart said that current rules do not fit the modern workplace. “The same applies to working from home on Sundays. This is intended to create the possibility for employees to take Friday afternoon off, for example, and work on Sunday instead.” 

“The labour law dates back to the 1960s. Especially in the last 20 years, digitalisation has led to new forms of work that are simply not reflected,” Swiss People’s Party (SVP) National Councillor Thomas Aeschi told the Tages-Anzeiger back in February. Having secured the support of the FDP, SVP and the Economic Commission of the National Council, the proposal is likely to progress beyond the committee stage and into the halls of government.

Opponents say the new Swiss labour law would do more harm than good

Others are not so keen, with Green National Councillor Franziska Ryser arguing that the idea “will do more harm than good” as it will encourage burnout-inducing practices such as a culture of always being available. She said that while remote working should be encouraged, “with the change in the law, employees could practically be obliged to be available in the evenings and at weekends - even those who do not want to do this."

She said that the change being proposed should be amended: "It should not only be adapted to those employees who voluntarily want to work more - but also protect those who do not want to answer emails or make phone calls at the weekend." 

Her thoughts were echoed by the Swiss Federation of Trade Unions (SGB), which wrote back in February the plan was “scandalously radical” and would lead to “Wild West conditions” for workers' rights. They confirmed that they would be opposing the plan, which they say will lead to “free work, stress and burnout.”

Thumb image credit: Dikushin Dmitry / Shutterstock.com