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Job sharing not embraced by Swiss bosses

Not many Swiss bosses are convinced that two heads are better than one Keystone

Less than a fifth of Swiss companies offer the possibility of job sharing to employees, according to a survey. The practice of splitting a position between two employees was considered inefficient by a third of the Swiss firms surveyed.


According to a survey of 1,200 business leaders – of whom 100 were Swiss – conducted by the consulting firm Robert Half, Switzerland is one of the European countries most resistant to offering job sharing to employees. Only Germany is more reluctant in this regard.

Despite having the second-highest rate of part-time workers out of all OECD countries, the concept of job sharing has not convinced Swiss employers. Almost a third surveyed believed that dividing the responsibility for a post among two employees could complicate relations within a team and adversely affect the functioning of the group.

The benefits of job sharing, according to the authors of the survey, include the sharing of knowledge improved flexibility and better management of absence due to illness and holidays. 

Despite the additional costs that job sharing might entail such as increased social contributions or investment in technology, it will pay off in the long term as it encourages loyalty according to Robert Half. 

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SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR