Switzerland offers a highly skilled, multilingual workforce and flexible employment rules. All-in employer cost runs around 1.15x the gross salary, with occupational pension the main variable. Here is what to know before your first Swiss hire.
Employment runs under the Code of Obligations, which is relatively flexible, though some cantons and collective agreements add rules. Social-insurance and occupational-pension registration are mandatory. A 13th-month salary is customary.
Employer costs sit around 15%, split across old-age and disability insurance, unemployment, accident cover, and the employer half of the occupational pension.
Occupational-pension (BVG) contributions rise with the employee's age, so older employees carry a higher pension cost, at least half paid by the employer.
Most employees file and pay their own income tax, though foreign workers are often taxed at source. Social-insurance withholding is the employer's job, which under EOR means ours.
*All figures are estimates from public sources (2025-26), pending ops verification - same basis as the EOR cost calculator. Not tax or legal advice.
Compliant Swiss employment contract, payroll, social insurance, and pension, handled. One invoice, flat $499 per month.