Part-time work in Switzerland: Parents in particular hardly want to work full-time anymore
92% of Swiss parents would prefer to work part-time. At the same time, financial self-determination is important to them and wages are the main driver for often working more than desired. But only a minority of mothers and fathers have given serious thought to the actual financial consequences of a part-time job - and its possible, drastic impact on their own pension situation. This is the result of a survey conducted by Swiss Life.
Switzerland is a part-time nation: 37% of the Swiss workforce work part-time. In a European comparison, this means second place behind the Netherlands. In 62% of Swiss families, at least one parent works part-time, according to the latest figures from the Federal Statistical Office. Swiss Life wanted to know in more detail how self-determined Swiss families are in dealing with the issue of part-time work and conducted a representative survey of 912 parents in households with children up to the age of twelve.
Only 8% of Swiss parents want to work full-time
Family and a full-time job often seem to be a necessary evil for Swiss parents. Only just 8% of them would work full-time if they could choose freely. For fathers, the figure is somewhat higher at 13%, and for mothers it is as low as 4%. The reality is different: In fact, 76% of the fathers surveyed and 11% of the mothers work full-time today. The desire for a reduced workload is matched by the fact that only 12% of the parents state professional success as an important goal for the next ten years. They consider leading a happy family life (64%) and having enough time for their own children (54%) to be much more desirable.
Swiss Parents Decide Self-Determinedly for Part-Time Work
Those Swiss parents who work part-time have generally made a conscious decision to do so. Only 5% work part-time because they could not find a full-time job. As a reason for the decision to work part-time, 94% of mothers state that they are concerned about childcare and running the household. A better work-life balance is hoped for by 34%. Among fathers, the main reason for part-time work is also childcare and household chores (61%). Almost equally important for them, however, is work-life balance: 59% of fathers cite this as an important reason for part-time work.
Part-time parents feel less stressed at work and experience more appreciation
Part-time work not only leaves more time for the family, it also seems to be linked to other positive factors. While 28% of parents with a full-time job feel highly stressed at work, the figure for part-time parents is only 15%. And the perceived higher stress in the full-time workload is not rewarded by more appreciation - on the contrary: just under half (46%) of the parents with part-time jobs say that their work gives them appreciation. Among parents with a full-time workload, the figure is only 37%.
Money, not career, is the main reason for a full-time job
Around three quarters (74%) of parents with full-time jobs cite the higher income as an important reason for their workload. Only 24% of them work full-time for the fun of it. It fits into this picture that financial self-determination is very important for Swiss parents. Financial independence ranks second on their list of priorities after their own family - ahead of friends and career.
Part-time work: effects on budget and own pension situation hardly known
Part-time work has financial consequences. All the more surprising: only just 39% of Swiss parents have already calculated in detail how part-time work affects the household budget. Even fewer, namely 27%, have already given serious thought to how their workload will affect their retirement provision. It is surprising how many parents would like to work part-time, but have never calculated such a scenario.
New online calculator offers support for financial part-time check
In addition to salary, part-time work can have an impact on a whole range of other factors, such as childcare costs, tax deductions or tax progression. To help you keep track of this, Swiss Life has developed the Online part-time calculator which can be used to easily show the effects of different scenarios on the household budget. For families, the calculator is a first step on the path to the right part-time mix and more financial confidence for their self-determined lives.
Source: Swiss Life
