My RAV advisor is becoming increasingly unhelpful and almost belligerent - I was wondering if it's possible to request a new one?

There's definitely a language barrier, which he seems to hold against me, and he seems to just want to get rid of me (both during the meetings themselves and overall) as soon as possible. The latest was that he refused to let me take one day holiday during a scheduled course (two months away) and seemed to imply that he would refuse to allow me holiday in general at the moment (even though I've got loads of days saved up) since I should be focused solely on finding a job.

I've had a look on the official site and can't find any relevant info. I probably won't go down this road, as I see it just causing more problems, but am curious if anyone has ever gone through the same?

cheers!

Fortunately I never had to deal with RAV advisors but from what I hear from my friends they're all pretty much useless. They're called "advisors" for PR reasons but it seems they don't do much beyond checking if you did the required number of job applications.

If it turns out to be easy and straightforward to request another one then give it a try, otherwise it's most likely not worth the effort.

lucky you

I am sure it can be done, but think of it like requesting a new teacher´: the new RAV guy may be pedantic in the extreme to avoid an further accusations from a "difficult" client. If you are currently getting your money on time, then a bit of give and take might be a good strategy.

I am always a bit surprised about "holiday" when job seeking. It is quite a concession to get time-off from your gruelling 10 applications/month, so I wouldn't complain too much.

AYB

You are not allowed to take 1 day off, you have to take a week, as I discovered when I went to the dentist in London, Flying out last flight Friday night & returning on a Monday afternoon.

They can be difficult, best thing to do is some temporary or part time work. They like that so I assume they get paid a 'bonus', as the RAV is saving money.

Often the people working for the RAV would be unemployable in any normal business, I suspect many were unemployed & could not get a job, rather than become social cases the RAV took them on.

It can be done, however it may make matters worse, unless they break the law & give you untruthful information. They can in exceptional circumstances get moved to 'administration & support'

you're right, i forgot about that five day block requirement. because life always works out that neatly

what's frustrating is that i have started working part time as "self employed" but this doesn't seem to have made a dent in his attitude. he's also been extremely unhelpful in helping me navigate the very complicated terrain of self-employment.

fyi: for anyone thinking of going down the road of self employment, there's an office in zurich "fachstelle for selbstständigkeit" whose people have thus far been refreshingly helpful and relaxed.

They don't like you being self employed as they think you are cheating the system, you need to be an employee even if it's just for a day. They assume your cheating the hours & doing self employed work on your unemployed days.

Self employed earnings won't count towards a new rahemnfrist, being employed will.

ah, that explains part of his attitude. i swear, if i can build up enough freelance/self employed work, i may just sign off altogether. the ratio of grief:benefit is becoming too unbalanced.

"Real" selbständig status is not eligible for ALK payments and you will not have the safety-net if you continue to be self employed long term. It does however offer advantages in terms of maximum tax free pension contributions etc.

Also if you have a controlling interest in a commercial venture that employs you (such as a company) you are not eligible either. So you need to be doing agency work or similar to remain milking, sorry benefiting from the system.

AYB

Sure, you can argue that it's generous, but that doesn't change the fact that it's codified into the system. It's not discretionary. But as fatman said, it must be taken in 5-day blocks. I'd forgotten about that. Anyway, it's for a one-time family event that i'm not going to miss, so will instead just forfeit my benefit for that day.

I was told it was not allowed (untrue) & I should be employed which is how I do it 90% of the time.

I never manage to qualify for much holiday as I do some work every month. You have to not be working for 65 days to be allowed a week. I usually have to take unpaid non milking the system holiday.

What your doing is trying to build up a business which is just not acceptable, you must make applications for a real advertised ideally 100% job somewhere in the world. As a previous employee you wont have had the necessary training eg answering the phone, accounting, sales & marketing etc. The RAV will worry that without proper qualifications & diplomas, there is a risk your venture may fail.

This is CH, your thinking out of the box on how to go forward to help yourself. Your RAV advisor is used to people following orders & doing what they are told. It's a culture thing, they are also put out if you earn more than they do

What you're doing is trying to build up a business with the RAV providing the funding and providing the safety net. Anyone who is trying to establish their own business with their own financing will consider this an unfair subsidy (perhaps to their competitor) if it is not available to all (which it isn't unless you have the employment history and play the system).

AYB

Actually quite a few 'employers' have there staff on short time & the RAV pays much of the salary, they can pitch on a job without a staff overhead & undercut, causing other companies to go bust.

Several companies also ask unemployed people to work for a low rate do build up 'days'. 100chf a week etc.

Now that's what I call abusing the system!

I don't won't to run a business, I would be quite happy with a normal full time job, where salaries get paid on time & I know what I am going to earn. I asked to take over your job last week, however you never took up my offer.


Best FMF

actually you have no idea what i'm trying to do - you're presuming! btw as much as one works designated "self employed", one reduces his/her allotment of benefits accordingly. there is no scamming of the system, this all came recommended to me via an official department established to help people become self employed (fachstelle für selbständigkeit). if you have a beef, it's with them or the employment department, not me.

The fact that someone else is abusing the system in a more extreme way doesn't absolve anyone from (what I consider to be) exploiting the system.
I've already made my thoughts known on such dubious behaviour.

Based on the information you've given online, I would be reluctant to hire someone such as yourself for any position within my company. As for my job I don't think you could handle it as like so for so many people, it involves a great deal of hard work and responsibility of more than "3 or 4 days a month".

Good luck with your job search.

AYB

If one abused the system to the maximum, you might end up with a 70% insured salary of 500 chf a month, I can't really see the point myself.

I really don't believe however long you stayed in the system that you could get a payout exceeding 400 days of the original salary. The milkers go to the socialampt after 18 months.

Either you intend to be self employed or not. Translate selbständig and you will get a feel for it.

We have already been through this. There is a big difference between using the ALV as a support to get back on your feet when you hit difficult times, and using it as a long term subsidy for your lifestyle.

While I agree there are systemic problems with RAV and ALV which could be exploited, I respect those who use it for the purpose for which it is intended.

AYB

3 - 4 days are the days that earn the money, many hours are spent to get there.

I was actually banned for doing overtime when I had a full time job, we were working 7 days a week 9.00 am to midnight for a month. That was before the recession.

Imagine an art Auctioneer who gets kicked out & hired freelance, he will have 1 sale a month if he is lucky, thats 1 day when he earns money.