Is my staff and resource planning sustainable?

Careful staff planning is important. Founders should determine their staffing requirements and define the necessary number of employees, their skills and their qualifications. The next step is to examine the financial options for covering the salary costs. Don't forget: anyone wishing to employ foreign staff first needs to apply for a work permit from the cantonal administration.

When drawing up employment contracts, you must comply with the legal requirements. You can conclude employment contracts in writing, and you must do so in the case of apprentices. In any case, it's advisable to set out the main terms of the contract in writing:

• Names and addresses of the contracting parties
• Role and job description
• Start, duration and end of the employment relationship
• Probationary period
• Weekly working hours
• Salary amount
• Holiday entitlement per calendar year
• Continued payment of salary in the event of illness or accident
• Pension fund

Anything not addressed directly in the contract is usually regulated by the Swiss Code of Obligations or in collective labour agreements (CLAs) that exist in some industries. A contract may never deviate from the statutory minimum standard to the detriment of the employee.