I worked in Switzerland in my thirties came back to the USA for 6 years and now just interview for another position again in Zurich, I am now in my forties. Not sure what to expect. Any thoughts from anyone? Thanks!

I think it's changed a lot in 6 years. There are definitely more Indian restaurants than there was and there is a more international feel to Zurich. A lot of the typical Swiss things are still there though - like a guy came and measured my friends car to prove it was 1.5 cm over the parkling line .

As for age discrimination - I have found that young attractive, woman are ageist - in my case anyway .

Most of the job openings I see seem to have an age limit, so while I haven't experienced any myself (only 30) I'm guessing the answer is yes.

It's definitely a bit of a problem that the older you get the more expensive your BVG will get, half of which your employer has to pay.
Therefore it's much cheaper to employ someone younger. Screwed up system, I know... You can't do anything about it. If you offer to work for less money they will think are unskilled and desperate.

But there's hope. Since we haven't reproduced much in the past decades (1.2 children per couple AFAIK) there will soon be a "shortage" of young people. Immigration will cover a part of it but also older employees will be treated with more respect in the future I hope.

I agree the older you are the more the company thinks you will cost them. but i think most companies require experience.

Also i hardly doubt that 40 year olds would be up for the same jobs as 20 year olds. There should be little to no competition between the ages to make age discrimination here in Switzerland.

Thanks Javo, when I told the recruiter my age he went silent, however he did sent my resume to the company of hire.

The company agreed to do a telephone interview with me over the phone first with an HR person.

It took about 3 weeks before I got a second interview with the technical team I was sure it had to do with my age.

Then a few days latter I interview with an IT Manager, they liked what I had to say so now I am going in as a QA Manager.

I start as soon as my work permit comes through, so you are right. The Skill sets are different.

Also My references from working in Zurich helped alot.

So I should be there in about 6-7 weeks very excited about coming back. It is not so bad being almost 45 .

Cheers,
Swisser

Congrats Swisser on the new position - today is my 47th birthday - your post gave me a little more optimism for the future.
In my company I do not think that age is too big a problem. (OK it it is an american international company, (I*M) but it is mainly Swiss / Germans who I work with.)
My team look after a few hundred Oracle and Sybase databases for a mixture of banks and various european companies.
I am training a 27 year old "apprentice" - which seems quite old to start compared with my apprentiship (19 years old in the UK).
My manager is 56 and there are 4 people older than me in a team of 15.
Normally, I would consider my job as a "young persons" job - 24 hour cover - high pressure continuous firefighting.

You can retire at 62 from my company - and a lot of people take this option.
Therefore, the window between 27 and 62 does not really give too much scope to be ageist - 35 years.
Personally, I hope that the younger generation will have no interest to do the sort of real donkey work which is the reality of IT and that my experience and willingness to turn my hand to any situation will keep me employed until I win the lotto or retire gracefully.
It was not too many years ago in the UK that once you hit 40 you were on the scrapheap if you lost the job. Now there are laws aimed at reversing this attitude. I think these will eventually filter into the Swiss legislation.
Fingers crossed. I hope this 1.2 kids per couple trend continues.
Worst case is having to go freelance again - then there are not the financial issues for the hirer, plus you get more ready dosh.

Good luck again with the new start.

Hi
I was very worried about this before I came over for interviews. At one interview I was told I would be the oldest nurse in the hospital " not that you`re old! " said the director!! anyway got the job so can`t complain.

However quite worried about the prospects for hubby as many jobs stating 45 years limit, he is slightly older than this. have been told by an agency it isn`t impossible but not easy for himto get a job.

jo

Hey Jbrady, looks like we are colleagues

There is age discrimination everywhere, be it in CH or elsewhere. In other places it is just a bit more hidden, whereas in CH you are expected to write your date of birth on your CV. I don't think it's really different as in other places.

Well yes - if you picked up a paper and half the job adds said "No Jews, No Blacks, No Catholics" you'd think that was discrimination, wouldn't you? Why should "between 25 and 35" be any different? Discrimination is discrimination - its just that some forms are encouraged by the Swiss Government, even though the constitution forbids it. How's that for hypocracy??? How can such a question be asked in a country which allows people to post ages in job adverts. It certainly feels like discrimination to those concerned.

Well said, Swissms !!

My wife is 46 and she has recently been put down to 60 percent (from 1st Jan). Nothing to to do with her work quality, Manor has decided that anyone over 45 who is female and works in the service section of their restaurants are "too old"
I have been helping her apply for similar jobs and I can not believe how many adverts are so blatently ageist.
Manor have advertised for new people and my wife says that more than 20 have started and quickly finished, because the work is too hard.
Also, the company expect my wife to train the new people.
Something wrong in my eyes.
My wife has managed to get the Arbeitslos to pay the extra 40 percent (minus a bit), but she would really like to work full time.
Strange thing is that they now make her work split shifts and "away from home" time is the same as 100 percent.
What would the advice be of EF'ers - put up with it or just try and find a none ageist job? Or retrain while still on Arbeitslos?
I figure that even if you are getting 40 percent subsidy from RAV, after 18 months you get nothing. Better not working and try and change / retrain.

I'm not in the position to give an advice on how to react, but search the forum for "Änderungskündigung" because this is what the company did, and the employee has the right to work to the old conditions during the entire notice period. No need to get ripped of in an anyway bad situation.

It is a free market. Unfortunately, it is unfavorable to older and less qualified employees. That trend will exacerbate as the Swiss frontiers open to the newer (low-wage) EU countries.

Before anyone groans at me, let me confess that I am an elderly jobless. That despite bilingual fluency in English and German, Swiss passport, excellent academic qualifications, etc. I am not moaning. Instead am relishing the leisure.

Nowadays, everyone must resolutely optimize their present and future situation. Be persistently on the lookout for better opportunities.

As an elderly jobless, I am not so sure. Jobs will be outsourced. Products and services will be imported. Substitution will be attempted (e.g. no one repairs a defective TV here, just buy a new one made in China). And eager young legal immigrants from the new EU countries, will do the rest. Finally, the illegal immigrants will pick up the crumbs.

Agree with you a lot about the outsourcing. My company is devoted to find the cheapest place to do the work. I am just waiting for the mail which says here is a small bag of money, we are now shutting down operations in Switzerland
I really think it is time to restring my bow and get back into the three ageless professions - Womens Vanity, Prostitution and selling food.
My wife is only interested in the third version, which is quite lucky as I set up and ran a Thai / Malaisian restaurant in the UK. (for ten years)
Just let other people chase the jobs and feed their hunger.
I think it all just about re-branding yourself

Hi can you say more about this? I hadn't understood the 60% was also a sacking.

This is true - she had 2 options in December. Sign a form and accept 60 percent (starting January 1st) or be made redundant. She decided on the first option.
Her "chef" is now making noises about increasing it to 80 percent.
If this happens then I think she will stop the Arbeitslos subsidy and save the credits for when she eventually gets totally made redundant.

It is a renegotiation of the employment contract. Employee formally accepts the employer's new terms and conditions.

Age discrimination in Switzerland is rampant. One of the reasons being the second pillar pension. The employer's contribution increases with age. Therefore a younger employee will cost less in terms of salary but also social charges.

The other reason being that inspite of an aging population there is no law banning age discrimination in the work place, but particularly no politicians has tackled the issue. This I am sorry to say is very typical of Switzerland. Politicians tend to pass the buck in this federal state of direct demoracy. The community you live says it will be the responsibility of the canton, the canton will pass the buck to the Federal Government who will then pass the buck to the population.