Also, FMLA is only for medical issues, not for school holidays.

So I see this a benefit to workers with children, and a detriment to those without (less vacation flexibility).

I assume that Swiss workers sans children are not paid any more than those with children, despite providing more value to the company.

I don’t know the answer to this! I presume there are things in place for that, but also consider that any time other than your regular vacation is unpaid and you’ll see that people don’t really take advantage of it.

The Swiss culture is VERY work oriented. They also offer unemployment at 80 percent of salary for 2 years! A Swiss person would rather die than spend more time than they absolutely have to on unemployment. Other cultures don’t have this same work ethic and it makes immigration problematic.

I was going to ask the same question. I’d hate to have an accident during spring break and the hospital is closed because all the doctors and nurses have children on holiday.

Elizabeth, I agree, would single people have to work holidays? On the flip side, would parents, especially single parents, get passed up for jobs? I mean, hiring managers aren’t ‘supposed’ to discriminate when it comes to that, but does it happen? Would it happen?

There needs to be a minimum of staff available at all times. My current department would not be able to function if all the employees with children were allowed time off at the same time.

Also, if they let their non-parent employees have time to recover when sick, etc. and make sure to have coverage if needed then. I wouldn’t want to have to work sick because Pierre’s little one had a day out. That would be miserable.

Awww, thanks Anonymous. I do know my way around HR regs. What I don’t know is my way around Swiss regs!