Support

Below you will find offers of support and resources for remote working in Switzerland.

Guiding questions

The guiding questions help employees to assess their suitability for working remotely in Switzerland and serve as a guide for supervisors to introduce effective remote work practices. They cover essential considerations for the successful implementation of remote work.

Role and communication

  • Is my role suitable for remote work arrangements, considering my responsibilities, tasks and processes?
  • Do I engage in frequent discussions with my supervisor to stay informed about expectations?
  • Can I seamlessly communicate and collaborate with my supervisor, team, and colleagues while working
    remotely?
  • How can I strengthen teamwork, communication, and cohesion in a remote work environment?

Workspace and equipment

  • Do I have a designated and comfortable workspace that minimizes distractions for effective remote work?
  • Is my remote work setup equipped with a reliable and secure Wi-Fi connection, an ergonomic workspace, and essential computer devices (microphone, external monitor, webcam, keyboard, mouse, etc.)?

Security and privacy

  • Can I ensure secure access to the ETH Zurich network, for example, by connecting to the VPN?
  • Can I safeguard confidentiality and data privacy by employing precautions when needed and selecting secure locations for private conversations?

Technical support

  • Am I familiar with the process of seeking immediate technical assistance if required during remote work?

Work-life balance and further implications

  • Am I confident that I can structure my day successfully and manage my time effectively when working
    remotely?
  • Am I committed to adhering to working time regulations, including breaks, night hours, and respecting
    Sunday/public holidays, to maintain a healthy work-life balance during remote work?
  • Am I conscientious in reporting my incapacity to work, particularly in the context of remote work, and will I
    abstain from performing any work-related tasks during periods of incapacity?
  • When working from locations outside Switzerland, have I considered the legal, tax, and social security
    implications?

If you answered “yes” to all or most of the above statements: Initiate a conversation with your supervisor to
explore the possibility of remote work and discuss the various available options. Collaborate with your supervisor
to find an arrangement that prioritizes the needs of the team and supervisor while also considering your individual
requirements as an employee.

Task feasibility

  • What tasks or meetings might present challenges when conducted remotely?
  • Which ones can be effectively managed from remote work locations?
  • Are there tasks or projects that could benefit from reduced interruptions and increased focus?

Communication and collaboration

  • Which responsibilities necessitate consistent communication and collaboration within the team or with external
    partners?
  • How can effective and consistent communication and collaboration be ensured among team members?
  • How can I ensure that trust is maintained, and everyone is included and informed?

Supervision and support

  • How much supervision or support does each team member require when working remotely?
  • To what extent can team members work independently, and how can I foster autonomy?
  • Are team members familiar with home office requirements, including hardware, connectivity, and an ergonomic
    workspace setup conducive to focused work?
  • Do team members understand the importance of reporting work incapacity and refraining from work-related tasks
    during such periods?

Clear expectations

  • What are the expectations regarding remote work for each team member?
  • Have these expectations been clearly communicated and understood?

Work-life balance

  • Can team members maintain a healthy work-life balance while working remotely?
  • What indicators should I pay attention to to be able to identify potential challenges and signs of work fatigue?
  • What steps do I take to encourage work-life balance and foster good work practices?

Work restructuring

  • Is there an opportunity to restructure work to better accommodate remote or flexible arrangements without compromising productivity or outcomes?

Ergonomic workstation

Find out more about the importance of ergonomic workstations - also when working remotely. ETH Zurich offers comprehensive information and advice to support your health and efficiency, also when working remotely.

The future of work

The future of work page offers practical recommendations for employees and supervisors and a specially designed workshop. This workshop enables supervisors to work with their teams to develop a common approach to working together in the future - independently and without external moderation.
 

JavaScript has been disabled in your browser