Randstad Labor Barometer: Swiss employees want to travel
Companies with an international flair are popular with Swiss employees. This is the result of the current edition of the Randstad Work Barometer. Around 50 percent would like a job that allows business trips abroad. Almost as many would even leave Switzerland for their dream job.
"Travel can have an impact on health or on performance," says HR Director Randstad (Switzerland) Ltd.
Swiss employers with an international focus can score points with Swiss employees. Three quarters of respondents say they would like to work with colleagues from different countries. This is the case for all the men and women surveyed and for all age groups. The survey also revealed that 46 percent of Swiss employees would like a job that involves international business travel.
Among 25- to 34-year-olds, this figure is as high as 51 percent. This age group includes, among others, young people who have just completed their studies. Jobs with travel opportunities are particularly popular among many graduates.
Discrepancy between desire and reality
Around half of employees would like to travel, but for only 17 percent is traveling abroad part of their everyday working life. At 24 percent, this figure is more than twice as high for men as for women (11 %). Very young employees between the ages of 18 and 24 in particular travel beyond national borders for work (29 %). In the 25-34 age group, this figure falls, and international business trips are now part of everyday working life for only 14 percent.
High interest to work abroad
Interest in working abroad is high among both men and women. Just under one in two would find it exciting to work abroad one day. Interest increases steadily among 18- to 34-year-olds and then declines again with increasing age. This suggests that the willingness to travel is closely linked to family planning. This is because the willingness to travel increases again as soon as the children are a little older and more independent.
Furthermore, 49 percent of survey participants said they would move abroad for the right job. Here, too, enthusiasm is highest among younger people, with two-thirds of those aged between 18 and 24 saying they would leave Switzerland for their dream job.
International travel broadens horizons
The participants in the survey agree that traveling for work can offer added value. Employees who travel for work can benefit in several ways: They come into contact with a wide variety of people from different countries and language regions. And they gain insight into foreign corporate cultures. This is also the view of Nathalie Zihlmann, HR Director Randstad (Switzerland) Ltd:
"Being allowed to do business in an international environment not only broadens professional and cultural horizons, but also contributes to personal development. However, it should not be forgotten that frequent travel is also associated with stress and that this can have an impact on health or performance, especially in the case of frequent and short stays in other time zones."
Randstad Mobility Index
The Randstad Mobility Index indicates how many employees expect to accept a new, comparable job within the next six months. In Switzerland, the index fell from 102 to 99 points (-3) in the first quarter of 2016.
More information: www.randstad.ch
