Hello, I have few questions about my rights when my employer changes my place of work:
I live in the canton of Vaud and right now I live 4 km away from my current place of work.
Soon, my employer will send me to another place of work on a new long-term project that is 100 km from the place I live. Does somebody know if according to the law my employer has some obligations when changing my place of work (like covering the costs for relocation or the costs for the train)? Or the law says nothing on the matter and it depends only on my employer's good will?
I checked my employment contract - it says nothing about this case.

Does your contract mention anything about travelling/replacement? (or anything in the company rules), and is your place of work mentioned in the contract or is it flexible?

Also feel free to negotiate, for 100Km there is no obligation to relocate, but if your employer would have to pay 4 yrs of travel (random period) paying like 2.000,- for a relocation might save him. a lot of money and you a lot of time.

Depends on your contract. Some have clauses that say you will work in X but can be asked to work wherever the company wants you to work.

Lot of people getting the boot in Nestle these days too.


Speak with HR and find an agreement but they have no obligation

Thanks you all for your replies. I will summarize my answers in this post:
1. "Does your contract mention anything about travelling/replacement? (or anything in the company rules), and is your place of work mentioned in the contract or is it flexible?" -> My contract does not mention anything about travelling but since I am in consulting business from time to time the client may change. The contract says I will be working in the client's offices and indirectly this means from time to time my place of work will change. The contract does not say who pays for the relocation.

Yes, I do negotiate but at the moment the "package" they agree to give me does not cover the full cost of the relocation. Since the law says nothing on the matter it is only a question of how good negotiator I can be.

2. "Depends on your contract. Some have clauses that say you will work in X but can be asked to work wherever the company wants you to work." -> Yes, considering I am in consulting business my place of work is generally flexible but it does not mean my company will be sending me anywhere at my cost. Because if this is so, my feeling is that I have to pay from my pocket in order to work. This kind of treatment is similar to free-lancers but unlike employees free-lancers are being paid much more.

You tax rate changes if your canton/commune of work or residence is also changing.

Especially if your remuneration includes representation allowance, which is different by canton and requires a tax ruling with each.

You should ask your HR team for a gross to net salary simulation for the new location.