Redundancy / relocation advice

Visas, Permits, Passports and Naturalization
1

Hey folks,
After 3 years of bliss living in my dream country, my company has decided that my role is no longer needed.

I’m devastated and now have some decisions to make. They have promised to create a new role for me in the UK if I want it, otherwise redundancy will be offered.

I know I’m lucky to have that choice so I don’t want to seem ungrateful. But the idea of returning to the UK is my worst nightmare.

Has anyone been through redundancy here and can give an idea on what to expect? My meeting with HR isn’t for a little while but I’m driving myself crazy right now.

I’m desperately applying for jobs here but my role & experience are rather niche. The lack of fluency in local languages is a significant blocker.

The other option on the table is to go home to Australia, and I can’t even figure out how complicated that relocation would be, especially as I’d be doing it without expensive company support.

Any relocation / redundancy advice is gratefully accepted. Thanks all.

3 Likes
2

Really sorry to hear that.

I’ve sent you a separate message but will see if I can dig anything useful up.

1 Like
3

Hi Itsjess,

been there, done that, although a couple of years ago, but also a rather niche job. Will send you my contact details in a pm.

But don´t panic! You have been here long enough to be entitled to RAV so go to them and apply there. That will give you loads of time to consider what you want to do and where.

3 Likes
4

Just apply for RAV, then you have 2 years of job search, may be your skills are transferable to some other role, if money is not main objective and you just really like it here, there are plenty of jobs to do here

2 Likes
5

The option of RAV hadn’t even occurred to me. According to ch.ch I am eligible for 520 days of RAV support (being between the age of 25-55, no dependents, and been employed for >24 months). That is incredibly generous. That adds another option to my decision chart, thank you folks!!

2 Likes
6

I think 520 days is when you are over 55, younger than 55 still gives you 440 days and with that still a lot of time to consider what to do next!

1 Like
7

I seem to remember reading somewhere that it’s really important not to accept voluntary redundancy: it has to be without choice.

And RAV will enroll you on language courses to make sure your language skills improve sufficiently.

1 Like
8

Oh yes, thanks, I misread the chart. 400 is the correct number.

9

Oh bummer! Don’t forget to check out the international organisations in Geneva. Their postings aren’t always distributed to locals.

2 Likes
10

Huge disclaimer: I have not been affected but know people who have and this is was the advice given (please anyone feel free to correct if wrong):

Before you leave your job:

· If possible, renew your B permit. The earliest you can start the renewal process is 90 days before the expiry date.

· Download any payslips and yearly wage certificates.

· If relevant, get external login information for any work-related stock plan account or similar.

· If you have any personal physical belongings in your office that you wouldn’t want to lose access to, remember to take them.

· While you can, make use of any company discounts; take copies of any warranty documents that may be attached to work emails.

· Make sure any expenses claims are up to date; if not submit asap.

· Update profiles in LinkedIn, Xing etc. and update your CV.

· Make sure you have the external contact details for HR in case you need their support once you have left the company.

· If your mobile phone was provided by the company, find out how to transfer it to a personal account.

· If in the German-speaking part of Switzerland, as for a Zwischenzeugnis. This is a type of reference. In German speaking countries it is common to provide written character references. If you intend to stay in a German speaking country it is advisable to acquire one for your next application. If the request is being made to your most recent manager, it can be requested any time, for up to 10 years after employment. You can also ask a former manager for one, but only whilst employment is ongoing. When the exit date is known, an Endzeugnis can be issued instead. This is signed by your last manager, but your entire tenure is taken into consideration and former managers can be consulted.

Useful portals when looking for jobs:

    • Linkedin
    • Indeed.ch
    • Jobs.ch
    • Jobscout24.ch

After you leave, make sure you add accident insurance to your health insurance if you are not starting another job immediately: it is mandatory.

RAV:

Tips I have heard re the RAV process (am very happy to be corrected if wrong as I have not had any experience):

  1. In order to be entitled to unemployment benefits you must have made contributions for at least 12 of the last 24 months and Switzerland must be your main place of residence.

  2. Keep a record of all aspects of your job search (e.g. applications and rejection letters) as you will have to submit them to the regional employment centre (RAV).

  3. You may well have to wait for a period of time before you receive unemployment benefit (apparently this depends on your insured salary and the amount of your severance package).

  4. Whilst claiming, you must

  5. Be ready and available to accept a job that matches your professional profile;

  6. Start looking for a new job during your notice period;

  7. Start looking for work three months before the end of your contract if it is a fixed-term contract.

  8. Unemployment benefits can also be granted if you are starting a new company or setting up independently. The benefits are only paid for 90 days while you are preparing and doing research on the topic. You can also release your 3rd and 2nd pillar if you are starting independent work.

  9. Accident insurance through SUVA is available while receiving unemployment benefits

7 Likes
11

Sorry to hear. Didn’t you just recently consider a career move to Geneva, or am I mixing things up?

As others have said, don’t panic. Play nice with your employer, maybe there even is some severance. Once they terminate you, don’t be shy to find ways to maximize your notice period.

And if you hate the idea of going to the UK, don’t.

1 Like
12

That didn’t go my way, unfortunately.

Husband is flying in tomorrow so that we can discuss together over a bottle (or 2) of wine to figure out next steps.

Excellent tip about the accident insurance, I wouldn’t have known to do that. Thanks wonkywellies!!

3 Likes
13

I would totally go to Oz. Love that place! And language wise probably easier for your husband to find work?

14

I agree with Komsomolez as well as your own gut feeling that the UK is the pits after Switzerland. Just checking the unemployement benefit alone in UK versus Switzerland. Switzerland is ‘the Rolls Royce’ when it comes to falling back on Unemployment benefit and probably puts a number of other EU countries ‘in the shade’
UK unemployment benefit ( Jobseekers Allowance ) is fixed rate & for those aged 25 or over its just £90.50 a week for a maximum of 25 weeks ( or 180 days ) with no JSA for the first 7 days of your claim which works out that you only get 25 weeks pay after which it ends ( even if your still out of work ) & to be eligible ( as in other countries ) you can only claim it if you were made redundant or the company you worked for went bust forcing it to shed staff.
So 440 days Unemployment benefit in Switzerland gives you over a year to find a job. I think the country with the longest period of Unemployment Benefit is Spain where SEPE pays all those eligible upto 4 years with the maximum amout paid each month capped at about 1050 ( eg single claimants ) Euros a month this year.

Finally ‘the long running joke’ for many years over in the UK about which were the best ‘safe jobs’ to go for - were those that couldn’t be outsourced or offshored abroad which mean’t ( vetted jobs ) anything to do with local or national government & particularly companies servicing the armed forces as well as the UK Defence industry ( that require security clearance namely SC level Security Cleared jobs ) where preference is given to British subjects born in the UK.

15

I have nothing more to add to the excellent advice already given, just correcting the small mistake that in CH it’s not really “unemployment benefit”, its the obligatory insurance that pays. Its peanuts while you work and a godsend if unemployed, literally Swiss simplicity and genius at its best.

1 Like
16

Since RAV can give you an extended runway to find a new job, it could be an option (if you are interested) to get better at the local langauge and get a language certificate.

That’s what my wife did, which was just enough to secure a job where German was the main language and allowed her to improve her language skills on the job.

1 Like
17

Itjess, sorry to hear about your redundancy…I think you’re thinking of relocation way too soon. You are entitled to unemployment money for quite a decent number of months and if you work with the RAV it could be fixed sooner than you expect. So don’t rule out this possibility yet.

Well, who doesn’t? :slight_smile: What I mean is, who, in Europe at least, doesn’t love Australia? :slight_smile: (but maybe this is a discussion for another time)
We all know though that’s not alway simple to just pack and go back “home”…
I know of a few people who were quite pessimistic that they will find another job after being made redundant, but it turned out they worried too much…

18

If your skill sets are in areas where there’s a skills shortage ? have you tried or considered Contracting ?? Like IT workers in the past ( & depending on your skill sets still do ) can go Freelance to secure contracts in a week instead of weeks or months for permanent jobs, even if their objective is to return to permanent work. There are even Contracts ( & perm jobs ) where you can work remotely as well that might mean working for an employer in another country. Jobserve used to be good for Contract jobs.

Otherwise until your made redundant, the best advice is to explore all options with your current employer first, maybe ( if pressed ) they might offer another alternative job in Switzerland or other country in Europe where your happy to go.

2 Likes
19

Sorry this happened to you! Like all others my advice is to let it si k and use the unemployment to really think through what you want to do :slight_smile: the right answer will come to you!

What field are you in? Perhaps someone here can help?

20

Hi all. Firstly just want to say thank you very much for the advice shared here. Obviously I was responding to my situation in an emotionally-charged state, (understandably) and was a bit panicky in the moment.

We’ve made the decision to stay in Switzerland, in light of the generous RAV insurance and my inability to stomach a return to the UK. Husband will join me shortly as soon as our house in the UK is sold. There’s obviously a lot of uncertainty associated with our future but it’s the best of a bad set of options, for now.

The advice here is incredibly comprehensive and helpful, and a special thanks to those who PMd me with words of encouragement. I can now add this to my list of ‘things I’ve experienced’ and now at least I’ll be better equipped to deal with it in future (hopefully not), and also to help others out in the same situation. The best advice of all, from pretty much everyone, was ‘DON’T PANIC’ (where’s my towel?) and not to make any sudden moves. So simple, but very important.

I mean, drinking wine and crying was somewhat therapeutic for a few days, but then we knuckled down to make the big decisions :laughing:

So just a big thank you, you’ve all helped me out once again :heart: this community is so valuable.

10 Likes