Every year, Swiss Post trains around 1,900 young people as specialists in 16 professions.

For a strong Swiss Post and satisfied customers

The umbrella collective employment contract (CEC) comes to an end in 2020. Head of Human Resources Valérie Schelker explains her aims for the negotiations, why the prevention programme is important to her and why Swiss Post is committed to training young specialists.

Valérie Schelker Head of Human Resources,
Member of Executive Management

What are your aims for the new umbrella CEC?

Swiss Post intends to continue offering fair and progressive employment conditions, because our employees are the key to a strong Swiss Post and satisfied customers. The CEC must support the Group’s strategic development and, in the long term, create a forward-looking basis for ensuring that Swiss Post can continue to be successful.

The social plan was renegotiated before the CEC. What has changed?

There are changes to the employment guarantee for employees with 20 or more years of service. It now applies from the age of 58 – previously 55 – until the statutory AHV retirement age. Until now, anyone affected by this had to take early retirement from the age of 62. The change ensures a better pension for these employees.

Swiss Post has initiated a prevention programme with its social partners. What specifically is this about?

The prevention programme is an investment in our employees. It focuses on active discussion of the individual’s future career, lifelong learning and dealing with change. The aim is to remain employable in the face of change. Swiss Post wants to provide its employees with the best possible support and assistance, because we will also see major changes in working methods and job profiles as the process of digitization continues to advance.

Does the expected shortage of skilled workers also present challenges for Swiss Post?

The shortage of skilled workers is indeed a very big concern for me. In ten years’ time, there will be a shortfall of some 500,000 workers in Switzerland. The mobilization of women and immigration will not be enough to compensate for this deficit. At Swiss Post, for example, we anticipate an annual shortfall of more than 300 people in letter delivery services alone. We have identified the challenge, and for this reason, we are investing very specifically in training young specialists. We also plan to encourage internal mobility more strongly in the future, in order to offset staff shortages with our own employees wherever possible.

What does Swiss Post have to offer young people?

Every year, Swiss Post trains around 1,900 apprentices in 16 different professions in all cantons. Swiss Post therefore plays an important role in training young specialists. Four out of five newly-qualified professionals who were eager to stay with Swiss Post have found employment with the company.

Last question: what is your personal view on the issue of equal pay?

As Head of HR, but also as an individual, it amazes me that we even have to discuss this issue at all. Equal pay should surely be an absolute given – exactly the same as any other form of equality.