hi,

i am really interested how is a verbal promise seen in Switzerland.
i have got a verbal promise from a Swiss guy, and the signature is supposed to come soon...

in the country where i come from, we are quite skeptical and we don't believe it until we see the signature and stamp on an official paper...

how is the culture here - should i count on a verbal promise from a Swiss as if it was a written one?

nice eve,
archie

Dont worry he will call you. If he doesnt ... well ...thats the problem with going too far on the first date.... so its his loss....

dave

actually is about a job-offer-promise

Then I say No. Get it in writing. Not a swiss specific recommendation.

dave

My boss actually shook my hand and said the contract would follow. I was also skeptical but she came through a few day later. I think people here mean what they say and are honest.

Most Swiss take subjects like jobs, apartments, salary etc. extremely seriously - sooo, if someone "promises" you that you've got the job, I'd say you should believe him. Obviously, it's only really 100% binding with a written contract, but I'd say that congratulations are in order.

actually a verbal agreement is 100% legally binding, it's just harder to proove that you had an agreement in court, which is why most contracts are written down.

@archie:I wouldn't worry. If he said you have the job then you'll have it So congrats

So is posting in all capitals letters. I'm telling.

Was this the conclusion of your investigations on the resilience and persistence of Nazism within Swiss society?

verbal promises are, as they say, not worth the paper they're printed on

doesn't really matter if it's Swiss paper, I'd say

If you have ever been involved in a swiss yes-no-yes-no-not-yet-yes-no-no recruitment string-along situation you would be a bit more cautious. You can be let-down with nothing after turning-down other interested prospective employers. If he is a man (or woman bruvver, granted) of action then he will want to formalise the situation and get you signed up asap. Smile and agree subject to contract


dave

I'd say the opposite: since this is a serious matter I would not believe anything until it's in writing. I found this out the hard way with a job offer in the Netherlands. That hurt.

Until it's in writing, get further info out of your (hopefully) future employer, ask such things like when do you start work, what administrative things do you need to take care of before you start, etc.

Always get stuff in writing. No matter how trustworthy the guy might be, he could fail to get the budget authorised, or other things outside his control could intervene.

Maybe I'm too much of a believer in the good in people. As an employer myself I would never promise anything to an employee (future or current) that I couldn't follow through on, especially not if I knew that such a promise would involve that person relocating with all the hassle and costs that involves.

Umm, maybe it's just me, but how many people would actually relocate on the back of a verbal promise? Would you relocate to somewhere on the back of a promise?

People do though, think of big organisations in particular where you hear of people having 20 or so interviews and getting pushed from pillar to post with no clearly identifed decision-maker. Seemingly anyone can offer jobs verbally. I personally have seen somone make a job offer at interview that I knew for which he had no authority. When challenged he blustered about the need to get people on board and other bullshit. In the end event this same guy took on someone else for two months and was subsequently told she was unqualified and so she was laid-off and was unwilling to sue even though I encouraged it. He was fired later in that year in any case, so there is some justice.

dave

I have to say that my job offer here was a verbal one for months (during which I turned a good job offer) before it become concrete. I did not sign a contract until a few days after I'd moved to Switzerland. I still remember my expression when the HR lady asked me to read it over before I signed it - thinking what the hell am I going to do if I say no.

That said, I'd interacted with the people that offered me the job for a couple of years and they were essentially creating a dream job for me so it was worth the wait (and I had a back-up possible job).

I agree it's not good practice in general, but sometimes you know even if it's just a verbal agreement.

The rule is simple: you can count on a Swiss promise - but don't.

Never ever quit your job until you have the new one in writing - whatever country you are in. If a new employer cannot put their offer in writing in reasonable time, you have to ask what kind of outfit are they and what would it actually be like working there...

thanks a lot for all your opinions...after reading your views i managed to have a talk with the guy.
i just wanted to let you know how are the things now...
i got the promise in writing, in an e-mail, and the HR people are starting the procedures for my work permit.
if i don't get the work permit, there is still a back up option for me to get the job - as a trainee for a few months, until the work permit will be ready...

i don't have the contract yet, it is true...but after this, i can say i totally trust the guy, and i think Swiss people are trustful...and their word is believable (at least much more then my co-nationals trustfulness in job offers)

i will keep you posted

I'm not big on verbal promises....been promised verbally, guaranteed infact, the tenancy on 2 apartments....2 weeks of being told that the Swiss NEVER go back on their word, being sent pictures of the place and measurements for the drapes(which were custom made to fit)...they say sorry, but its gone. No way do I trust their word...better safe than sorry...we're still trying to fit our drapes to our current residence!