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  1. Overview: Switzerland
  2. Global PEO and payroll
  3. Global HR Compliance
  4. Work Permit for Hiring Expats via EOR & PEO
  5. Expand without a company set up
  6. Contractor vs. employee: which is better?
  7. Global Payroll Calculator
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Global Employer of Record (EOR) in Switzerland

As businesses expand globally, they face new challenges in managing a distributed workforce across different countries and cultures. The global employment journey involves several stages: recruitment, onboarding, management, retention, and termination. Each stage requires different processes, tools, and expertise, and ensuring compliance with local laws and regulations is crucial.

What Is a Global Employer of Record?

Global Employer of Record (EOR) offers a streamlined solution for companies expanding internationally, handling complex employment laws and administrative tasks. It operates across multiple countries, providing a unified solution for managing international staff, unlike traditional single-country EORs. Global EORs handle legal employment responsibilities like payroll, tax, and compliance with local labour laws, allowing companies to focus on core objectives. They offer expertise in local employment practices, reduce the need for local entities, and are cost-effective. Global EORs are ideal for companies exploring new markets or needing agile workforce strategies, offering flexibility and minimising risk. They act as strategic partners in international expansion, ensuring efficiency and compliance.

Navigating Employment Complexities in Switzerland: A Guide for Global EOR Service

  1. Regulatory Compliance: Switzerland has stringent labour laws, tax regulations, and employment standards. Ensuring compliance with these regulations is critical. This includes understanding local contract requirements, working hours, minimum wage standards, and termination procedures.
  2. Work Permits and Visas: For foreign talent, obtaining the necessary work permits and visas can be complex. Switzerland has quotas for work permits for non-EU/EFTA nationals, and the requirements can vary depending on the individual’s nationality and the type of work they will be doing.
  3. Social Security and Pension Contributions: Switzerland has mandatory social security and pension contributions that employers must navigate. Understanding the nuances of these contributions, including how they apply to foreign workers, is crucial.
  4. Taxation: The Swiss tax system can be complex, with federal, cantonal, and communal taxes. Employers must ensure proper withholding and payment of employee taxes and understand the implications for international staff who may also be subject to taxation in their home countries.
  5. Cultural and Linguistic Diversity: Switzerland is a multilingual country with distinct cultural regions. Employers need to be aware of cultural and linguistic differences when hiring and managing teams, which can impact everything from contract language to everyday communication and workplace integration.
  6. Employment Contracts: Swiss law requires specific elements to be included in employment contracts. These contracts must be carefully drafted to ensure they meet legal requirements while also being clear and understandable to all parties.
  7. Employee Benefits and Insurance: Navigating the intricacies of mandatory and supplementary employee benefits, including health insurance, accident insurance, and potentially even pension plans, is a significant aspect of employing staff in Switzerland.
  8. Remote and Flexible Working Regulations: As remote work becomes more prevalent, understanding the legal framework around such arrangements in Switzerland, including health and safety obligations, data protection, and working time regulations, is increasingly important.

As a Global EOR, our expertise in managing these complexities is invaluable. We provide the necessary infrastructure and knowledge to help employers smoothly integrate into the Swiss market, ensuring legal compliance and operational efficiency while also catering to the specific needs of both local and international employees.

All-In-One Global Employment Solution in Switzerland

Employing globally is no longer a maze of local setups and legal hurdles. With Express Global Employment, you can build a global team seamlessly. Benefit from our comprehensive, compliant, and efficient global employment solutions that eliminate the complexity of international hiring. From contract generation to seamless integration, we ensure that your expansion is as limitless as your ambition.

Global Mobility Support

Our global mobility support is about turning complexity into simplicity. We expedite onboarding and immigration procedures, ensuring your global talent is ready to engage and deliver results swiftly. By eliminating red tape and administrative burdens, your team can focus on what they do best, propelling your business forward in every corner of the globe.

Global Payroll & Benefits, Handled

Financial well-being is critical to employee satisfaction. That’s why we navigate the intricacies of international payroll and benefits with expertise. Our solutions offer your workforce a competitive and fully compliant financial package, wherever they may be. With Express Global Employment, you can assure your team that their compensation is globally competitive wherever they are.

Borderless Expansion, No Entity Needed

Launch your workforce in 190 countries without the burden of establishing local entities. Our all-in-one global employment solution allows quick, compliant onboarding and talent management. You can immediately scale up your operations and seize international opportunities with Express Global Employment as your guide.

New Markets. Zero Risks.

Expanding your business’s horizons should not multiply its risks. Protect your global ventures from compliance pitfalls with our expert guidance. We manage the complexities of employee classification and permanent establishment risks, ensuring that your expansion is secure and strategically sound. With us, new markets mean new opportunities, not new worries.

Global Payroll Calculator Helps You Streamline Global HR Operations

By creating the Global Payroll Calculator, we’ve done the global payroll and tax math and compliance for you.

  1. Eliminate the time-consuming and costly process of doing your manual calculations.
  2. Gain instant access to up-to-date salary cost breakdowns based on local tax laws and regulations and update in real-time with the latest employment and tax legislation changes across 190 countries.
  3. Stay compliant on all international payroll matters, including local taxes, labour rules, and benefits.
  4. Minimized the risk and global cost-of-hire.

Global EOR Helps Test Foreign Markets without Local Incorporation

As a business owner, you may feel overwhelmed by the tax implications of expanding your business overseas. However, new ideas exist to reduce complexity and ease the burden on busy entrepreneurs. In this article, we’ll explore some of the best ways to reduce the complexity of tax planning for international expansion.

If you’re thinking about using a Global Employer of Record (EOR) talent engagement model for your business, it’s becoming increasingly popular. Here’s how it works: a third-party company operates a local entity in each jurisdiction where it offers services. This can be a great way to comply with various laws and regulations.

Here’s how the Employer of Record arrangement works. A new business owner approaches a global EOR company to hire a remote worker based in a different jurisdiction. Rather than the business owner having to establish a new company or register a branch in a new jurisdiction, the employee can be employed by our local EOR partner company in any of your target countries. All attendant costs associated with this arrangement are then charged to the client company for a fee. This can be a more efficient and cost-effective way of doing business for the employer and the employee. Many start-ups like this idea because it gives them the flexibility to focus on getting their business up and running.

Managing Payroll and Tax Compliance in Switzerland: Challenges and Best Practices for Global Employers

Payroll and tax administration involve calculating and distributing salaries, withholding taxes, and complying with local tax laws and regulations. Managing payroll across multiple jurisdictions, including Switzerland, can be challenging due to the complexity of local tax laws and regulations.

Switzerland has a relatively high tax burden, and companies need to ensure compliance with the country’s tax laws and regulations. A global employer of record can handle these tasks, ensuring that employees in Switzerland are paid accurately and on time and that all tax-related obligations are met.

Ensuring Compliance in Switzerland: Managing Leave Requests and Local Labour Laws

Working time, attendance, and paid time off management involve tracking employees’ working hours, managing leave requests, and ensuring compliance with local labour laws and regulations. In Switzerland, for example, companies must ensure compliance with the country’s strict regulations on working hours and paid time off.

A Global Employer of Record in Switzerland can help companies implement time-tracking systems, manage employee leave requests, and ensure compliance with local labour laws and regulations.

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Global Employment Services in Switzerland

Express Global Employment provides comprehensive services for building a global team, handling all aspects from hiring to compliance. Here’s what we can do:

  • Global Mobility Support: Simplifies onboarding and immigration, enabling quick onboarding and engagement of international talent.
  • Effortless Onboarding: Streamlines global employee onboarding to enhance productivity and speed up results.
  • Global Payroll & Benefits Management: Manages international payroll and benefits, ensuring compliance and competitive compensation.
  • Borderless Expansion Without Local Entities: Facilitates workforce expansion in 190 countries, removing the need for local business entities.
  • Hire Internationally, Operate Everywhere: Offers support for scaling operations and seizing international opportunities swiftly.
  • Risk-Free Market Navigation: Provides expert guidance for secure expansion, managing permanent establishment, employee misclassification risks and compliance challenges in new markets.

1. Recruitment

2. Global Mobility

3. Checks

4. Onboarding

5. Payroll Administration

6. Working Time & PTO Processing

7. Benefits Administration

8. Tax Administration & Reporting

Offboarding

Talent skilled in highly specialised areas Employee Work Visa and Work Permit sponsorship Health checks Employment Agreement drafting In-country registration with statutory bodies Working hours Mandatory Benefits Tax Reporting frequency and requirements; Employment agreement termination:
Executive search Dependent Visa Criminal record checks Compliant worker onboarding on your behalf Day-to-day payroll management Overtime Health insurance Employer taxes & contributions Dismissal – by the employer
Contingency workforce Visa extension Background checks Account setup in the payroll and HR system​ Monthly pay slips or other pay frequency Public holidays Workers’ compensation Employee taxes & contributions Resignation – by the employee
Application for a sponsor license for a foreign national Education checks Employee data entry and records maintenance Accruals Annual leave Unemployment insurance Withholding tax Termination by mutual agreement
Relocation assistance Managing probation periods Allowances Parental leave Voluntary Benefits Local tax payments and reporting to local authorities Notice period handling
13th and 14th salary Sick leave Share plans for executives End of financial year reporting Final settlement & severance payments
Additional leave Bonuses & Equipment provision De-registration with statutory bodies
Expenses reimbursement & business trip processing
Health insurance, dental treatment

Sample Employment Tax Calculation

How a Global Employer of Record Can Recuce Vendor Complexity

As businesses expand globally, they must navigate complex employment laws, tax regulations, and cultural differences. To operate efficiently, companies must find trusted partners to help them navigate these challenges.

Utilising a single Global Employer of Record partner empowers businesses to manage employees efficiently across multiple countries. This unified approach simplifies complex international HR processes, providing consistency in employment practices and compliance standards across different jurisdictions. It eliminates the need for multiple local HR teams or legal advisors, ensuring a cohesive and streamlined strategy for global employment.

A Global Employer of Record can effectively consolidate multiple services, replacing the need for various vendors across jurisdictions.

Payroll Management Company

Payroll Management Company Managing payroll across multiple countries can be time-consuming and costly. A Global Employer of Record can handle all aspects of payroll processing, including calculating salaries, withholding taxes, and social security contributions. By outsourcing payroll processing to a Global Employer of Record, companies can save time and reduce the risk of errors, penalties, and compliance issues.

Employee Benefits Broker

Providing employee benefits such as health insurance, retirement plans, and other perks can be challenging, especially when dealing with multiple providers across different jurisdictions. A Global Employer of Record can act as an employee benefits broker, offering customized benefit plans that comply with local laws and regulations. This can help companies attract and retain top talent and improve employee satisfaction and engagement.

HR Consultants

Global HR consulting involves offering strategic advice, expertise, and guidance on various HR-related matters, including recruitment, employee relations, performance management, and compliance. A Global Employer of Record can provide access to experienced HR consultants who can help companies navigate complex HR challenges and develop effective strategies that align with their business goals.

Background Checks Vendors

Conducting background checks on potential employees is crucial to mitigate risks and ensure compliance with local laws and regulations. However, sourcing and managing multiple background check vendors across different countries can be time-consuming and costly. A Global Employer of Record can handle all aspects of background checks, from sourcing vendors to managing the process and ensuring compliance.

IP Attorney

Intellectual property (IP) protection is essential for companies operating globally. However, navigating IP laws and regulations across different jurisdictions can be challenging. A Global Employer of Record can provide access to experienced IP attorneys who can help companies protect their IP assets and ensure compliance with local laws and regulations.

Employment Tax Advisor

Employment tax compliance is critical for companies operating globally. A Global Employer of Record can provide access to experienced tax advisors who can help companies navigate complex tax laws and regulations across different jurisdictions, reduce tax liabilities, and avoid penalties and fines.

Translation Service

Effective communication across different languages and cultures is crucial for global businesses. A Global Employer of Record can provide access to translation services, including document translation, interpretation, and localization, ensuring compliant contract drafting and effective communication with employees across different jurisdictions.

Legal Advisor

Navigating legal matters across different jurisdictions can be challenging and time-consuming. A Global Employer of Record can provide access to experienced legal advisors who can help companies navigate complex legal issues, reduce legal risks, and ensure compliance with local laws and regulations.

Immigration Advisor

Managing immigration matters for employees working across different jurisdictions can be challenging. A Global Employer of Record can provide access to experienced immigration advisors who can help companies navigate complex immigration laws and regulations, obtain work permits and visas, and ensure compliance with local immigration laws.

HR Compliance Advisor

Ensuring compliance with local HR laws and regulations across different jurisdictions is critical for global businesses. A Global Employer of Record can provide access to experienced HR compliance advisors who can help companies navigate complex HR laws and regulations, ensure compliance, and avoid penalties and fines.

A Global Employer of Record can help companies save time, reduce costs, and mitigate risks associated with selecting and managing multiple local service providers by providing an all-in-one solution across multiple jurisdictions. This can help companies focus on their core business activities and achieve their global growth objectives.

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Global Employment Challenges that a Global EOR Can Help Address

Challenge Why Use a Global Employer of Record
Legal and Regulatory Compliance Collaborate with a Global EOR provider to leverage their local expertise and experience in navigating complex legal and regulatory environments. Access tailored compliance support and training to ensure adherence to local labour laws and regulations.
Administrative Burden Utilize advanced automation and AI-driven HR technology solutions offered by a Global EOR provider to streamline and simplify administrative tasks. This can free up HR staff to focus on strategic initiatives, increasing productivity and efficiency.
Employment and Termination Engage a Global EOR provider to access their in-depth knowledge of local labour laws and regulations. Obtain expert support for complex employment and termination procedures to mitigate legal risks and ensure compliance with local labour laws.
Global Payroll Administration Partner with a Global EOR provider to utilize their cloud-based global payroll platform. This provides real-time access to global payroll data and analytics, ensuring compliance with local tax and labour laws and simplifying global payroll administration.
Employee Benefits Administration Consult a Global EOR provider for expert guidance on designing and implementing a competitive and compliant employee benefits program. Leverage their partnerships with local providers to offer affordable, high-quality benefits that comply with local regulations.
IP Right Protection Collaborate with a Global EOR provider to receive tailored IP protection guidance. This may include global trademark registration, monitoring, and expert advice on navigating complex local IP laws and regulations to safeguard your company’s valuable intellectual property.
Business Transitions (Acquisitions, Mergers, Close-Downs) Work with a Global EOR provider to receive expert support for complex business transitions. This may include merger and acquisition due diligence, risk management and mitigation strategies, and company close-down assistance.
Dealing with Multiple Global Employment Service Providers Consolidate all global employment services with a single Global EOR partner. This offers a one-stop-shop for all global HR and employment needs, simplifying the global expansion process and avoiding confusion or legal issues arising from working with multiple providers.
Lack of Local and International Legal Support Obtain expert legal support and guidance from a Global EOR solutions provider. This may include leveraging their global legal network and partnerships with top-tier law firms to ensure compliance with local and international legal requirements and mitigate legal risks.

Spotlight on Switzerland

Switzerland is a small mountainous country located in Central Europe, bordered by France, Germany, Italy, Austria, and Liechtenstein. Switzerland is a federal republic composed of 26 cantons. Switzerland, a state that espouses neutrality, has a prosperous market economy with a per capita GDP among the highest in the world.

Capital: Bern.

Population: 8,662,000 (2022). Official languages: German (or Swiss German), French, Italian, Romansh.

Local currency: Swiss franc (CHF).

Labour force: 5.1 million (2021).

Industries: Switzerland has a highly competitive economy due to its specialized industries, strong added-value services, and a motivated and highly skilled workforce. The country is a leader in pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and medical technology. Other important industries include precision engineering, luxury goods, and watchmaking. Agriculture is a small but important sector, with organic farming on the rise. The primary agricultural products are livestock and dairy products, and the country is also home to over 15,000 wineries.

Trading partners: Switzerland’s well-developed and globally competitive sectors, such as banking, insurance, freight and transport, have contributed to the development of international trade across Switzerland. Large exporting groups drive the strong industry sector. The main trading partners are Germany, the US, the UK, China, France, India, Italy, the United Arab Emirates.

Minimum wage: Switzerland has no nationwide minimum wage, although some cantons have introduced their own minimum wage, ranging from 20 to 23 francs per hour. In practice, wages are typically negotiated between individual workers and their employers.

13th 14th salaries: The 13th and 14th monthly salaries are a common practice in Switzerland and are often referred to as the “13th and 14th month’s salaries”. Swiss employers pay their employees’ annual salary in 13 or 14 instalments, with the additional salary payments typically made in June and November/December.

Employ Your Selected Workforce in Switzerland via the Global Employer of Record (EOR)

Our comprehensive global employment services cater to our client’s varied and evolving HR requirements worldwide. We specialize in offering support in three key areas:

  1. Global talent acquisition and retention: Our team of experts helps you navigate the complexities of hiring and retaining the best talent worldwide.
  2. Global expansion: We enable businesses to enter new global markets quickly and seamlessly without the risks associated with legal and HR compliance.
  3. Local support for international clients and their employees: Our local teams provide on-ground assistance to clients and their employees in various locations worldwide.

When it comes to hiring local employees in Switzerland, it’s crucial for businesses to offer competitive salaries to attract and retain the best candidates. As a global employment organization, Acumen International caters to end employers and service companies representing international clients.

Our Global Employer of Record (EOR) service offers a cost-effective alternative to direct hire in Switzerland. With our solution, companies can operate in Switzerland and 190 other international markets where we have a presence without registering as a local business entity.

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