Those who work from home in Switzerland could face longer working hours and fewer breaks, thanks to a new proposal approved by parliament. Supporters have argued it gives both companies and employees more freedom to choose when to work, while opponents fear the change will lead to increased burnout.

Flexible working hours for remote staff in Switzerland: What you need to know

Under the plans, submitted and approved by the Economic Affairs and Taxation Committee of the National Council last week, remote workers in Switzerland would be subject to more relaxed rules around working hours and breaks.

Those who operate from home or via flexible working would see their maximum working time period increase from 14 to 17 hours a day. At the same time, the minimum rest period between shifts would be decreased from 11 to nine hours, while remote staff would be given more opportunities to work on Sundays.

Changes to Swiss labour law give workers more freedom, say supporters

Speaking to Watson, FDP President Thierry Burkart said that the proposal gives both employers and employees “more freedom when working from home.” The FDP argued the change would allow remote staff to dip in and out of work throughout the day, better tailoring their hours around other commitments, from childcare to sports.

Burkart assured that while the proposal would allow remote staff to work longer days, the maximum weekly hours cited in work contracts would still apply.

Already, the Swiss People’s, Centre and Green Liberal parties, and the Swiss Employers’ Association, have signalled their support for the proposal. In a statement, the SVP noted that Swiss labour law was last reformed in 1964, and no longer reflects the modern workplace. By changing the rules, they argued that the Swiss economy would benefit from a new pool of hyper-flexible employees.

Remote workers risk burnout and exploitation, opponents argue

On the opposite side of the aisle, the Green Party noted that while remote jobs need to be included in Swiss labour law - as they are a more environmentally friendly and sustainable way of working - the proposed change gives far too much power to employers to dictate working conditions.

They said the change creates serious health risks for remote workers by blurring the boundaries between work and social time and adding the pressure to forgo rest breaks. Despite Burkart's assurances that overall weekly working hours would not rise, others fear the change would pile more pressure on staff to work for longer.

For their part, the Social Democratic Party rejected the idea of reforming the current system, noting that Swiss labour law remains one of the most flexible of all industrialised countries. They said that while home working should be encouraged, it should be done so through work contracts and collective labour agreements.