"Should workers enjoy six weeks' holiday a year, does the number of holiday homes need to be limited, and should there be a fixed price agreement for books?

Voters have the final say on these and two other issues on March 11 - the first round of nationwide votes of 2012."

I think we all deserve 6 weeks holiday per year, don't you?? If you are Swiss, good time to vote! If you are not Swiss, please encourage your Swiss friends to vote!

As I said before, I will "no" to both the 6 weeks holiday and the 2nd home initiative. The book issue I haven't looked into yet, but I will vote for whatever brings the horrendous price of books down in Switzerland .

My main argument for the holiday vote is that I think it is unnecessary and will be used by employers to cut other benefits from it staff. I have enough holiday thank you very much, I don't need any more. Slefish maybe, but what else are referendums about otherwise? Everyone largely votes as to how the issue in hand will affect them personally.

Calling all fellow EF members with Swiss citizenship...we have an epic chance to get 6 weeks paid vacation!

In the face of a probably anemic turnout to vote, PLEASE cast your ballot (you can do it by mail) for YES TO 6 WEEKS HOLIDAYS.

We got one shot here, the next time it come up for vote, we may all be 6 feet under, so please...vote YES!

The vote takes place on May 11.

The voting will be on March 11.
And sorry but it will be a "No" from me, because I simply don't want to squeeze my workload in 46 weeks instead of 48 weeks. Or do you really believe that the majority of the employers will hire more staff to compensate the two weeks lost?

That's all well and good Simplon. Fact is I already have more than enough work to fit my working 47 weeks (I get 5 weeks due to longevity at the company), but the base of 4 weeks sucks. Especially when you have to take 3-4 days between Christmas and New Year because the company closes and the lack of bank holidays in Basel (compared to other kantons).

If they could harmonise all bank holidays that would be great - but that is less likely to happen IMO.

So back to overall workload - most people have too much work to do anyway, so using that as an excuse is poor.

The other excuse likely to be used is from the oldies who say "I never had this, why should they". Fact is that modern office workers have to work much harder and faster than the retirees. So while they didn't get the perks we have today, they also were able to work 9-5 days, no emails and no blackberries to interupt out of hours activities.

I'm for it in theory, but it seems to me the timing for this referendum couldn't possibly be worse. With the current economic climate, I'm sure there are plenty of companies just itching to close their Swiss offices and this could be disruptive enough to give them the perfect excuse. I'm open to opposing arguments, perhaps someone can reassure me.

I don't see how having more holdiays means I have to work harder the other weeks. I'll simply extend my deadlines. People can pile work on me and I'll work my way through it as I do now.

"I need this report by Monday"

"Sorry, I'm off on leave for the next three days, you'll have it by Thursday"

"Not acceptable"

"And?"

I already get 6 + weeks, due to working shifts and gaining extra hours entitlement from nights and weekends etc.
So if this goes through I hope I dont get a reduction to 6 weeks

Also, is it really a good idea when companies are struggling due to the exchange rates to then saddle them with an extra financial burden?

If I were entitled to vote, even if I was only on 4 weeks holiday I would vote no, better to have a good job with four weeks holiday than no job cos of 6 weeks holiday!

A great philosophy. And it works brilliantly if you are in a shortage job in a boom. When businesses start the squeeze, it works for even less. So very lucky you that you can afford to do this, but sadly a luxury few can.

Sorry - I just don't agree that there will be an additional financial burden.

A good company will value outputs over process.

It's all academic for me anyway as I won't get to vote.

Vote NO, or become a teacher if you want more holiday weeks.
4 wks. should be the standard benchmark, with companies having the option to offer more days as length of service bonus, or as similar incentives.

If it changes, I'm sure it will have an initial negative economic effect as companies wont be able to claw back 2 wks. worth of salary from the workers. Productivity and future wage increases will undoubtedly suffer.

Another short term feel-good measure, sweetening long term problems.

I'm voting "no" too. I doubt this referandum will pass. It would take a toll on the present economy and the Swiss are too worried about that to make any frivilous changes at the momennt.

I am confident (and hopeful) that the majority of voters will reject this proposal.

What is the health insurance proposal about please?

2 additional weeks holiday means 50% more opportunity for consumers to get out and spend...go to restaurants, go up skiing, go shopping, and take the stress level down a notch at the same time. What are you so afraid of? If 6 weeks holidays is mandated for everyone, you will not be more disadvantaged than the next guy, we all get the same. I smell unjustified fear.

How can there not be an added financial burden??? if you have 26 staff all getting an extra 2 weeks holiday, thats a years worth of production/service lost. As an individual it may not look too bad, but you have to multiply that by the number of staff.
Of course there is a financial burden!!!

Four weeks vacation is law and has been since 1984, with public vacations and cantonal days in the mix you're at five more or less. Many companies already give the fifth week after a fixed period of employment.

Switzerland votes conservatively. The referendum won't get passed however often Karl groans at all the anti posters on this thread.

Well, Assasin, your random drive-by groans only make me more than happy to vote yes on this initiative. Bummer you can't vote, ey?

Seems from reading this thread most ppl suggesting to vote no already have 6 weeks holiday. I may be wrong so please don't attack if thats not true. But of course it would be easy to say no if you already have 6 weeks, it doesn't affect your tiem then. For those of us who only have 4 weeks and some haveing to tak mandatory days as stated above it is really not much time. I am actually a bit surprised at the responses as i thought many more people would be for this vote.

You might want to zip up your fly, Karl. Your ignorance is showing.

Karl, the consumers will not spend in Switzerland though, will they.

I'm voting no as well, but I would welcome everyone having the standard five weeks. The fact of the matter is that I have not had more than three days off in one row in over two years - just because you are entitled to holidays doesn't mean you get to take them. Same for many of my work-mates.

By adding more holiday time, employing staff in this country becomes even more expensive and less attractive and that is definitely not what we need.