Overview
The 4-Day Work Week in Switzerland
Current Status & Pilots
Switzerland has not yet officially adopted the 4-day work week at a national level, but momentum is building fast. In 2024, a landmark pilot study was launched — a partnership between 4 Day Week Global, Zurich-based consultancy Hailperin Consulting, and Bern University of Applied Sciences (BFH). The study examines the viability and real-world benefits of a reduced working week for Swiss companies.
Earlier, in 2022, several Swiss trade unions publicly campaigned for a 4-day work week with no reduction in salary — signalling growing grassroots support for the model across the country.
Switzerland's first large-scale 4-day week pilot involved 30 companies reducing their working week by at least 4 hours while maintaining 100% of employee salaries. The trial was organised by 4 Day Week Global, Hailperin Consulting (Zurich), and Bern University of Applied Sciences. It is Switzerland's most significant step yet toward formalising a shorter work week.
Working Hours Under Swiss Law
According to OECD data, Swiss workers average 34.6 hours per week — the 4th shortest work week globally. Swiss labour law caps working hours at a maximum of 45 hours per week. Workers in office-based, retail, and technical sectors are subject to this limit; industrial workers follow a lower cap.
Overtime rules: Swiss employees may not exceed 170 hours of overtime per year. All overtime must be compensated at 125% of the employee's normal wage rate, or with equivalent paid leave.
Working hours vary significantly by industry. Employees in medical and hospitality sectors typically work the longest hours, while office-based professionals tend to work close to the 34–40 hour average.
Work Culture
Work Culture in Switzerland
Vacation Entitlement
Every employee in Switzerland is entitled to a minimum of 4 weeks (20 days) of paid vacation per year, regardless of employment status or hours worked. Workers under the age of 20 receive an additional week, bringing their total to 5 weeks annually.
Switzerland observes several public holidays, though these vary by canton. The only national public holiday is Swiss National Day on 1 August. In Geneva, for example, employees benefit from 10 public holidays including New Year's Day, Easter Monday, and Christmas. Most businesses, schools, and public offices close on these days.
Some employers go beyond the statutory minimum and offer additional leave days as a benefit. Entitlement to public holiday compensation depends on the employee's contract and the nature of their role.
Part-Time Employment
Switzerland has one of the highest rates of part-time employment in Europe. As of 2021, 43% of the total Swiss workforce worked part-time. The split is notably gendered: 59% of employed women work part-time, compared with 28% of employed men.
Part-time employees in Switzerland retain proportional access to statutory benefits, including paid vacation. Research from Swiss Life found that Swiss parents working part-time reported better mental wellbeing and significantly lower stress levels than their full-time counterparts.
Remote Work Readiness
Switzerland consistently ranks among Europe's most remote-work-ready countries. A study by Robert Walters found that 71% of Swiss employers were able to provide full remote-work infrastructure at the onset of COVID-19 in 2020 — compared with 55% across other European nations.
By mid-2020, 78% of Swiss organisations planned to continue some form of remote work after pandemic restrictions ended. Today, an estimated 40% of Switzerland's workforce operates on a hybrid or fully remote basis.