I am an IT contractor from UK with a B permit and 2.5 years of continuous work (contract) history in Switzerland. My last contract ended last Dec and was not renewed and I have been looking and been on RAV support for the last 6 weeks. I searched all the RAV threads and could not find an answer to my specific question so I appreciate your input. First some more info about my case:
My typical income as a contractor was quite high, about 200K (if worked continuously for a year- which I did). Right now I am on the top capped RAV support which is currently 80% of 126K (100K). Yes it's good and I can't complain. In my last interview at RAV office, the advisor found me a role from the database which was a perm role. I applied for this and have an interview with this company in couple of days. If I am offered a role here, which I suspect will come with a salary much lower than my previous (contractor's) salary, will I be forced by RAV to take it? Will I lose benefits if I don't take it? Does anyone know the current rules? Thanks!
Yes, you will be expected to take any job similar to your experience. The good news is they cannot force you to work outside your industry. The RAV can also insist you travel up to 4 hours per day to the new job. Haven't you been awake during the indoctrination lectures? You can of course resign from the RAV.
Perm jobs are always less than contracting jobs - to compensate for the lack of perceived security. If you can't find a contract, and you want to take advantage of RAV, and you're offered the job, you'll have to take it.
Obviously, you have to do well in the interview, which is entirely in your control, but think carefully:
1. If you scupper too many interviews, your advisor may well become suspicious.
2. If the job offers training and new skills, new technologies, then a dip into permiedom until your particular area picks up isn't a bad thing.
If the OP took a job paying 50k the rav would top up 70/80% the difference to 126k for the rest of the RAV period . It would be calculated like the OP had a 50% approx job
Which is why I now always quote my proper rate for interpreting for RAV appointments. I used to take pity on people being unemployed and offer a reduced rate until I realised many people get substantially more on the RAV than I earn in a year. When some RAV claimants think CHF 30-50 is reasonable compensation for the best part of half a day of my time by the time I've travelled, I wonder whether it's them or me on a different planet!
if your are entitled to upto 400 days pay over 2 years (520 working days) it's the total cash amount rather than actual days, so if you take a 50K job then the top up benefits would be payable for the full 2 years.
So can I ask.. working a job at 100%, then the contract is changed down to 50%, can a person clain the extra from the RAV? or would it be better to take an end of contract and claim RAV 100% ( which I know they would pay 80% of the salary).
Do the RAV top up the 50% contract to 100% or 80%, salary..??
Insured salary less 50k topped up 70/80% to insured salary.
If you refuse to work 50% expect 3 months without benefits in addition to the month waiting period . you have an obligation to make the insurance pay out as little as possible.
I am perhaps soon to be on RAV...my doctor recently told me that they could force you to work as a "building cleaner" if you had worked in a corporate office...anyone know if there is any truth to that?
I'm not so difficult and am happy to take a job that offers less pay from my previous one...but I don't want to clean toilets...too big of a request?
My dad was a watch maker, and his company went into liquidation (now very successful again - Bovet) - when he was 6 months from retirement - so aged 64, he was requested to help with the renewal of the local railway tracks
Hopefully things have improved a tad since the 70s ...
Yes. I know of one person who literally wound up cleaning toilets (and other places) in a large business, even though the prior experience was in an office.
My goodness - this is worrying. Were they college educated working in a mid level position before? As Tom stated, my current salary is in the six figures...I couldn't imagine. Happy to clean toilets if I have to for survival, but otherwise nein danke.
I guess it depends on your advisor. The times I've been on the RAV, they've never pushed a job onto me which is wildly out of the scope of my CV. If anything, they suggested jobs which were a bit of a stretch in my ability.
If they were to start suggesting low-skilled, low-paid jobs it certainly wouldn't be until you had been unemployed for at least a good few months with no sniff of a job or even an interview.
I've found the RAV mostly just helpful and supportive, and there to get you back to work without too much upheaval.
I had one advisor who was a bit of a self-important knob but, thankfully, I was only out of work for 2 months before I found a new position. The other two times I've been with the RAV, the advisors have always been great.