Hi!

I have read all the rules in the various groups (employment, education), and I hope I am posting according to them. If not - I apologize. It's not for lack of trying. :-)

Does anyone know of employment possibilities while doing a postdoc? I would be willing to teach (I think it's called Practicum, sp?), but I don't know if and how that's done here.
Does anyone know if there are any additional jobs I can take on in the university?

I don't think I can work outside the university, since i am employed 100%.

I'd be happy for any info.

thanks in advance!

The university will not employ you more than 100%. In my department (D-BIOL, ETH) you are expected to teach (lectures, practicals or even longer block courses) as part of your job without extra pay. If you are interested to teach, ask your professor for opportunities.

Thanks for your reply. :-)

Well, in a nutshell - that sucks. :-P I am employed 100% at 70% salary, and was hoping to eke out some more money.

I do have to do problem sets for the PhD and MSc students as part of my job description, but as far as I know, nothing else. After reading your post, I am grateful that I don't have all that additional work for no pay.

I am in D-CHAB if you ever want to get a coffee :-) Thanks again!

If you are employed at 70% salary then you employed at 70% not 100%. You can pick up another 30% contract. This is also how PhDs work, they are employed at 60% so they can get additional paid work, although they are expected to work 100% on their PhD. As an Oberassistant, I am paid and contracted 100% but probably work more like 120-150%.
Academia.....

This is so confusing and annoying! I was told (several time) that I am employed 100%. Meaning, I am expected to work full time, not 70% of full-time.
However, the salary I receive happens to be the equivalent of 70% salary of what the SNF pays postdocs. So, basically, they just redefined the salary, but the employment is still 100%.
Yes, Academia... Sigh.

My husband (and friends) are at other departments and receive 100% salary for the same job. It's a question of supply and demand, I guess.

I'm not sure that is right. have you spoken to HR or the union rep about that?

Well, I asked the group secretary about it several times and she claims she asked HR. She said the job is defined as 100% but the pay grade in the department is such that a 100% job receives a salary that is 70% of the salary offered by the SNF. Since I am not paid by SNF, but rather by the department, they do not have to give me the SNF salary. They can pay me a different salary, which is 70% of the SNF one.
I was basically told I should be happy to receive any salary at all, seeing that postdocs worldwide usually get pitiful salaries or beg for scholarships. It was said nicely, but I got the hint that I should be thankful...

She is correct. The SNF pays a % salary but demands the contract be 100%. The flip side is that quite often SNF people are excused many of the more onerous tasks that other university paid people are required to do - exam invigilation for example.

I know of contracts which are 100% - paid 50% - where the university may only "use" that candidate for a 20% role - and the remainder of the time (80%) is to be used for the PhD

Teaching, managing master students, correcting exams is part of the job even for PhDs, might be on a voluntary basis or not but it's not something extra, paid with extra credit points for phds. Praktikum is just another word for internship i don't think it's got much to do with it.
Have you asked if you can actually take another job? (in agreement with the boss) or just confirmation that you were employed 100%?

Sure for PhD. But I've not heard it for postdoc. I thought that the university had to make up the difference tbh.

I asked if there were any opportunities for additional income, like teaching for example. I was told: a) you are employed at 100% so can't have any other job (not officially, at least), b) postdocs can't teach anyway.

Which department is that? If you are employed by ETH you should be paid according to these standards. What working % does your contract mention? Your pay slip? Which specific role? At D-BIOL I have not met any postdocs paid by ETH on 70% contracts expected to work 100%. For PhD students such arrangment was the norm, but that is because they are still considered 'students'. This has changed since this year: most PhD students are paid a 'standard' rate which is about 65% of what the 'old' 100% work contract rate used to be (see webpage above). Ask around your fellow postdocs. I am paid 80%, work between that and 150% but do not show up one day as I take care of my daughter. If your contract says 70% I think technically they cannot prevent you from taking on another job if you could find one.

'Praktika' are practical courses for BSc/MSc students that PhD students and postdocs are expected to assist / teach / organize.

Yes, I've seen those standards, but they also say that the salary depends on the funding department.
I will ask around. Thanks. In all honesty, I would prefer to do something less formal, like tutoring, than to add on another official 30% job... but I just wanted to know what my options are.

Thanks to all who answered. If anyone learns anything new, I'll be happy to hear it. Especially if it's a new law that says I must be paid 100% :-)