Hello,

I am due to start employment at UBS Opfikon in July.

Does anyone work there at the moment? and can tell me a bit more about the building, surrounding area and benefits?

Thank you in advance.

I'd estimate several thousand work there.

It's near the airport, fox town and has a hairdresser, a post office and an ATM in the building. It also has a no-smoking policy throughout the buildings.

What's your real question?

As a stylist ?

dave

real question? I just wanted some help or advice for the surrounding area? And for the building itself...Like are the gym facility's good? what is the atmosphere like in the building? Type of people?
No I am not going to be a stylist.

Let's see now. There's about 2000 people or so, and they are slowly cramming more and more people in. The type of people - bank employees.

The buildings are about 12 years old. They were originally going to be a shopping centre but the developers went bust and UBS bought it. They are situated near the end of the main Zurich airport runway, so there's plenty of aircraft noise at certain times of the day.

It's got a gigantic canteen that attempts to cover most food groups. Food options outside the buildings are limited, unless you're into thai/chinese food or dodgy kebabs. There's also a couple of cafes inside, and a kiosk.

Transport-wise, Opfikon and Glattbrugg stations are roughly equidistant nearby. There's also a bus stop with connections to/from the airport.

One building has an outside bar at one end called Vivendis. There's a trading floor in the other building, and untold underground levels. Perhaps even a dungeon.

Gym - no idea.

Gruss

It does have a gym.

The nearest pub is the Bahnhofli/Railway hotel, by Glattbrugg station. It's got a good restaurant and a garden bar of sorts.

Vivendis itself is ok to sit outside on a summers evening, listening to the sound of the frogs and the planes and the nearby rifle range.

There's a large heated swimming pool about one mile away.

God I miss them dodgy kebabs from YoYo.

Don't forget the self-service places (F50 and that one by Glattbrugg station)

I reckon that the lunch options are better there than at CS Uetlihof

Ha hopefully true, I have heard horror stories about rabbit on the menu up there.

Now they have the option of supplemented Personal Insurances:
Intras, Helsana, CSS, Group Mutuel, Concordia and OKK.

How can I choose which one to go with? The largest (Helsana)?

Any Ideas or recommendations please?

Intras. English web site. Including the small print

Not the cheapest though...

I was with UBS for 7 years and Intras got progressively more and more expensive. I then went to a personal advisor at CSS who basically laughed when he saw my policy. UBS staff no longer get the nice discount with Intras they used to. My CSS policy is about twice as comprehensive as my Intras one was, and a lot cheaper (saved about 100.- a month)

As for the gym, it's perfectly adequate and if you're into running then Opfikon is the place for you. I used to hit the gym mid-afternoon and pretty much have the place to myself.

I'm in UBS@Opfikon since a few days, stand up your arm and let's organize a beer one of these evenings. I'm missing so much the pub after work lately...

I will work for UBS but right smack 2 blocks away from the HQ. Can you guys tell me what UBS Opfikon does? Is that where wealth management research is?

Brownie - you've obviously settled into UBS culture slowly.

Investment Banking division is in Opfikon.

Oh, ok. Pardon my ignorance.

You work for UBS?

I will be new to the city, the bank, etc. Don't know a soul really in Switzerland except for a maybe 2 to 3 acquaintances...

I know what they do in Opfikon because I know several people who work or have worked there.

Where is the HQ? Bahnhofstrasse 45?

Thanks Fraser,

Thats exactly the advice i needed .

Yep I'm a runner so Coolios! Cheers

Yes. It's facing Bahnhofstrasse and I think 1 or 2 blocks away from Pelikanstrasse.

Lob,

What is you icon supposed to be? I cant work it out?

Hey, Zuricher? So, you're a stylist? Like, hairstylist? Wow!!!! Can I come to you? I've been living in Frankfurt for the past 5 years and have religiously gone to just one person all this time. He's fabulous and knows my hair. Expensive, but totally worth it and I can pay. Am looking for someone in Zurich. Here in New York it's the same. When I'm home and need a haircut I go to the same stylist (since mid 1990s).