Working remotely in Switzerland

ETH Zurich's position on remote working in Switzerland

As a campus-based university, ETH Zurich recognizes the importance of personal interaction in fulfilling its core responsibilities in teaching, research, knowledge transfer, and administration. At the same time, it embraces flexibility in determining work location, including the option to work from home. It thereby aims to enhance productivity, creativity, innovation, motivation, and satisfaction, while also promoting work-life reconciliation through flexible work arrangements. The deliberate and balanced combination of remote work with in-person interactions harnesses the strengths of both approaches. Promoting mutual responsibility fosters informal exchange, close connections, team spirit, and shared learning.

ETH views remote work as an opportunity and expects supervisors to enable it where it makes sense and aligns with operational requirements. Flexible and remote working arrangements enable ETH to continue to excel in its core tasks. At the same time, complete remote work is not endorsed by the Executive Board, as in-person physical exchange is important.

Principles for working remotely in Switzerland

• Remote working means that ETH employees regularly or occasionally work remotely within Switzerland without changing their contractually agreed workplace.
• Remote working is based on trust and requires a high degree of personal responsibility from employees, as they also carry out job-related tasks in their private environment.
• Generally, working remotely is open to all ETH employees who work and live in Switzerland, regardless of their employment contract and provided there are no conflicting organisational requirements. Further information for cross-border commuters and working in an international context.
• There is no general entitlement to be allowed to work remotely. Supervisors are responsible for making decisions about remote working arrangements.
• The Executive Board of ETH Zurich expects supervisors to facilitate working remotely where it makes sense and is feasible given the organisational requirements. Exclusive remote working (100 %) is generally not desirable.