Part-Time Work in Switzerland: Rights, Duties, Opportunities
In Switzerland, any workload under 90 percent counts as part-time, and with around 39 percent of employees working part-time, it's long been the norm. This guide explains your rights around vacation, continued pay, and pension provision, what to watch for with your pension fund, and how to find the right part-time position on Flexbridge.
What does this mean?
In Switzerland, any employment level under 90 percent counts as part-time work. Part-time is no longer the exception — it's everyday reality: in 2024, 1.9 million employed people worked part-time, a rate of around 39 percent. That puts Switzerland in second place across Europe, right behind the Netherlands. Part-time employees in Switzerland generally have the same rights as full-time employees — pro-rated to their workload. Specifically: at least four weeks of vacation per year pro-rated to the workload, continued pay during illness under the same rules as full-time, the same protection against dismissal, and OASI/DI coverage from the first franc earned.
Who is this suitable for?
Part-time work is widespread in Switzerland, but very unevenly distributed. Employed women work part-time 2.8 times more often than men (58.4 percent versus 21.1 percent). Part-time is especially common among mothers with children and people of retirement age. Age also plays a role: part-time work increases noticeably with age — the rate is 42.7 percent among 55- to 64-year-olds, and as high as 86.3 percent among those over 65.
What do I need to be aware of?
With part-time work, it's worth taking a close look at your pension provision — that's where the most common disadvantages arise. If you combine several small workloads or have a very low workload, you may fall through the cracks with occupational pension provision (2nd pillar). Check the BVG entry threshold, since at low salaries, contributions to the pension fund aren't made automatically. If you have several employers, coordinating your pension provision is especially important, since the coordination deduction can disproportionately reduce your insured salary.
How to find it
- 1Define your workload
What percentage fits your situation?
- 2Clarify your priorities
Which days, which flexibility do you need?
- 3Filter with purpose
Search Flexbridge by part-time and industry.
- 4Apply directly to the company
No agency, direct and transparent.
FAQ
From what point does Switzerland consider you part-time?+
In official statistics, any workload under 90 percent counts as part-time. Internationally (e.g. at Eurostat), anything under 100 percent already counts.
Am I entitled to the same amount of vacation when working part-time?+
Yes, pro-rated. The statutory minimum entitlement of four weeks also applies to part-time work — it's calculated according to your workload.
Does my employer pay into the pension fund for part-time work?+
That depends on your salary. A BVG entry threshold applies. For very low workloads or several small jobs, contributions may not be made automatically — it's worth asking.
Is part-time work a disadvantage for your career?+
Not necessarily, but in practice, managers work part-time less often (24 percent versus 45.5 percent among those without management responsibility). That's changing slowly — flexible models are becoming more common in higher positions too.
Ready for the workload that fits you?
Find part-time positions directly with companies on Flexbridge — no agency, transparent, and matched to your life.
Register now