Monday

Companies in Switzerland tend to start their workdays earlier than in the UK or US. James is expected to be at work by 08:30, so he has to get up at 07:00. From his residential area, it takes him 20 minutes to get to his office in the city centre by public transport. Because the trams arrive every few minutes, he has time for breakfast with his family. He leaves home at 08:00 and arrives punctually at his office, which is expected in Switzerland.

The workday lasts until approximately 17:00. Employees are legally obligated to take adequate rest breaks, so they can’t work at lunch and leave early. Because James is working on an important project, he leaves his office at 17:30 and arrives home at 18:00. This gives him several hours to spend with his wife and son.

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Tuesday

Back in the US, Emma worked in HR, but she doesn’t currently have a job. Many positions require good German skills, and Emma is still learning. In the morning, she walks her son Roger to school. She drops him off at the street corner, where he meets several of his friends. Swiss schools value independence, so children are expected to enter the building on their own.

Roger comes home for lunch, but he returns to school for another two hours in the afternoon. Emma takes this time to research networking events. There are plenty of expat groups in and around Zurich, and she is hoping to find a job through the Professional Women’s Group or a similar organisation

Wednesday

On Wednesdays, Swiss children have the afternoons off. Roger is already looking forward to training at his football club. But at 11:00, Emma gets a call and has to go pick him up because he has sprained his wrist at recess. She takes him to the local hospital, where he is treated within two hours. He has to stay home for the rest of the day and the next day.

James and Emma don’t have to pay for the visit to the hospital because they have health insurance. This costs a bit over CHF 800 per month, which is average in Switzerland for a family of three. There is a deductible (excess), but it’s only a thousand francs a year. Most healthcare costs, including medication, visits to the doctor’s office or hospital, and various types of treatments, are included.

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Thursday

James works from home on Thursdays and Fridays. Although employees don’t have a statutory right to telework in Switzerland, his employer is flexible and has implemented a hybrid working model since the end of the pandemic.

James and Emma’s flat has a small office space, so James can work even when his family is home. Because they live in a popular area of Zurich, their apartment is relatively small. They pay a little over CHF 3,000 per month for a two-bedroom place in an apartment block.  Because they think they want to live in Switzerland long-term, they’ve looked into buying a small house in the area. However, finding something suitable can be a long-term process, so they’re renting for now.

Friday

Roger is back at school, so Emma has time to meet another American expat for coffee in the morning. Her friend is slightly younger, and she’s been using dating apps to meet new people in the area. Although she’s complained that many locals don’t take online dating seriously, she’s recently met someone. She tells Emma about their cultural differences. While marriage is normal in her hometown, her Swiss partner isn’t keen on it. He wants to cohabitate instead. This is increasingly common in Switzerland, as people are becoming more hesitant to tie the knot.

Later, Emma goes to her language course, offered by a local provider called the Migros Klubschule (Migros Club School). She started learning German a year before her move, and she’s recently passed the second CEFR exam out of six. This means that she is now an intermediate learner. In about two years, when she’s passed her fourth or fifth exam, she will be able to work in a German-speaking company.