At least you found a solution, others may not be so fortunate. Since it is almost 2020, I am curious if in hindsight you regret taking the job in Switzerland in the first place?

I got some good work experience in two different jobs. The first of which was highly paid. In between I had a year of unemployment but used the time to upskill and still got paid well. Then I got something lined up in London which was pretty good also.

I would only come back if I was offered a decent role in a major corporation. The country is beautiful and right in the heart of Europe. However, the people were not so welcoming.

Sad but true.

I hope I have answered your question in the previous post.

Thank you for posting this situation! It is really despicable practices and you should post this on glassdoor, people should be aware how they can get trapped. It useless trying to prove that your performance was good and what they are doing just scamming. Among all the legalities in Switzerland and being a foreigner it is easy to be taken advantage of and act out of fear losing something. If I were in this situation, but previously had a normal work history, I would without hesitation said "go f%#ck yourself", left and never put this on my resume, registered with RAV and kept looking for a job. But I understand in this situation already being one year unemployed does make it difficult, then you just accept the offer, half a day spend in cafeteria and actively look for a job. Companies will do everything to squeeze you as much as they can and they don't give two cents about you, nor should you give any damn about them, build up your skills and know your value, in software there are thousands of jobs.

Name and shame!

It’s illegal to do that.

My sympathies for anyone else who is unfortunate to work for them.

It is illegal to defame any company.

Defamation by definition involves a false statement, why would OP not be allowed to tell things as they happened?

I imagine that there my be some nuances, but I don't believe that telling any experience about a company is illegal - then complaining about your company in a bar with friends would land you in jail

Is it also illegal to defame an employee ? So if a prospective employer starts calling my old bosses and tells me old boss such and such said bad things about me, can I sue ?

If you can prove what is said is not true then I believe so. What they are saying must affect your career adversely

Yes and yes.

But you'll have to prove your case, which will probably be very difficult. There are no punitive damages (worth speaking of) here, so the best you can reasonably expect is the income you lost, if any. Given that your new employer confronted you with what was said you probably got the job, so no damage to claim. That leaves "üble Nachrede" and "Verleumdung", which is criminal law. In either case you have only limited time to act and raise your case after you learned about it.

That said, if they have at least an inkling of what they're doing they'll know that a former employer is forbidden to provide negative reference, full stop. So, instead of answering negatively they will simply remain silent.

Plus, unless it's a clearcut case (let's say a criminal matter like theft or fraud), lack of loyalty is usually a matter of character. That lack they demonstrate by giving bad reference will usually be applied to business partners as well, past and future. Talk about shooting yourself in the foot...

I feel cheated out of my lifestyle and career.

I am thankful for my new job in London but feel that it is a big step down from what I used to do. Also, I had no choice but to accept as I did not want to be unemployed after already having a year out.

God have mercy on the wicked people that did this to me. On a positive note, I am now over a year in my new job.