Switzerland passes law allowing longer home office hours

The Swiss Federal Council has voted to extend the number of hours that employees in Switzerland can work from home. Here’s what the new rules mean for workers.

Federal Council expands home office hours in Switzerland

With 119 votes in favour, 63 against and five abstentions, the Swiss Federal Council has voted to extend the number of daily working hours that employees can work from home.

The maximum daily working time from home will increase from 14 hours to 17 hours per day. This means that, if you work from home, your boss can ask you to work up to 17 hours per day.  

The minimum rest period between shifts for those who work in a home office has consequently been reduced from 11 hours to nine hours. Meanwhile, working from home on Sundays will be permitted without approval. Employees will be able to work from home on nine Sundays per year for a maximum of five hours per Sunday.

Greens and Left concerned about new rules

The law was initially suggested by Thierry Burkart (FDP/AG) in 2016 and recommended by the Federal Council’s Economic Commission following the coronavirus pandemic. The policy was generally approved by the SVP, Mitte, FDP and GLP, while the Greens and Left Party raised concerns.

The latter parties worry that the new rules will result in poorer working conditions and will have a negative impact on employees' health. “What is sold as flexibility is a frontal attack on employees’ working conditions,” David Roth (SP/LU) told the chamber.

Criticism also came from the Swiss Trade Union Federation (Schweizerische Gewerkschaftsbund or SGB), which said that “2 million employees in Switzerland now had their Sundays and evening relaxation hours threatened”.