What to wear
The default manner of dressing in Swiss culture is formal. However, in the past years, dressing in the office has become dependent on the industry you are in. For example, bank employees tend to dress more formally than workers in the advertising industry. To be sure, always wear formal corporate attire during your interview and on your first day at work. Men should wear coats on top of a shirt and tie, while females may wear coats over formal trousers and shirts. Once you’re done with your first day at work, you will start to get an idea on how you are expected to dress inside the office. Some companies accept smart casual clothing, while others prefer to maintain formality. Either way, the first day at work shall give you enough time to observe the dress code inside the company.

What to bring
Business cards are generously given during meetings, most especially on the first time you meet a counterpart. Your card should reflect your name and position in the company and your contact details. Cards are usually given to the receptionist for filing purposes, and then exchanged with your counterpart when you find an opportunity to do so. Gifts however are not expected during the first meeting, but are acceptable on the day transactions are concluded or when a deal is closed. Avoid bringing expensive gifts because it will appear as a bribe. When bringing a gift, you may bring the ones coming from your company or you may also bring some not so expensive wine.

What to expect
Swiss people value punctuality, and therefore should be strictly observed during meetings. Expect meet ups with counterparts to be highly structured. Everyone is expected to be prepared to present the needed knowledge expected from your end. Although Swiss people are non-confrontational, always be prepared to defend your point in a direct debate should the situation calls for it. As a norm, since locals promote work-life balance, you are expected to steer clear in giving work-related calls or raising company-issues outside of work.

What you should know
The corporate culture in Switzerland is hierarchical in nature. This being said, most decisions are done by the upper management and information flows from top to bottom. Employees don’t normally get to have a say in decision making, thus, rank and file employees are expected to observe the standards and rules implemented by the higher-ranking officers.

Women have no problem working in Switzerland at all. Although males are mostly favored to take up high-ranking positions, in the past years, the government has been encouraging gender diversity in the workplace. In 2020, Schiling Report has recorded that at least 100 of the largest employers in the country have 24% female composition in their boards, a rate up by 2% from 2019. This has helped increase awareness on the important roles of women in the corporate setting.

Below are the types of leaves you are entitled to when you get a job in Switzerland. Note that some of the leaves may vary in the number of days depending on your company’s policies.