Compensation & Benefits
Bayer is committed to offering its employees outstanding benefits. These significantly help to safeguard the health of both the employee and their family, increase financial security and help establish a healthy work-life balance, thereby improving quality of life.
We work to guarantee a high level of social protection in our workplaces. Almost all Bayer employees are covered by health insurance plans and have access to a company pension scheme. Working conditions for over half of our employees are governed by collective or company agreements. We continually strive to increase the range of benefits we offer and have set ourselves a target to provide all our employees with the highest possible level of social security in future.
One of the major guiding principles of our benefits and compensation approach is to tie salary to individual performance, thereby creating an incentive for personal success. We regularly measure our compensation structures against global standards and adjust wages and salaries to the individual requirements of each position. We supplement our wages and salaries with performance-based pay and numerous other attractive benefits.
Compensation
Our compensation packages cover the diverse needs of our global workforce and include, for example, basic salaries and wages, bonus schemes, long- and short-term incentives and additional services. In this context, we regularly consult external benchmarks and internal standards to assess salaries, thereby ensuring that our employees are paid fairly.
Social security
It is important to us that our employees are well insured. With this in mind, we offer generous solutions for employee pensions and insurance for daily sickness benefits, occupational and non-occupational accidents.
Work-Life Balance
We are keen to promote a healthy lifestyle among our employees. We know that it is not always easy to strike the right balance between challenges at work and personal needs. This is why we create the right framework conditions to ensure everyone can reach their full potential – while staying healthy at the same time. Our vision is to enable us to work at our best as individuals and in teams in a culture based on trust. As part of our New Ways of Working approach, employees are allowed to work from home. We leverage our office for human contact and team exercises, for circumstances where face-to-face interaction can improve outcomes
Benefits
Bayer offers different benefits at each site. These may include language courses, contributions to childbirth and weddings. And last, but not least, we also offer employees the opportunity to purchase Reka checks (a Swiss scheme for discounted holidays, leisure and staff catering) and various other benefits to round off our range of services.
Working hours/Leave entitlement
In Switzerland, Bayer uses the annual working time model, which gives employees the option of better adjusting their working hours to their workload, adjusting their workload to changing requirements in their private life (where appropriate), thereby bringing the interests of the company in line with their own.
Employees are entitled to between 25 and 30 days of leave, depending on age and functional level. In addition to general leave, employees may also request up to 15 additional days. Maternity leave is 20 weeks and paternity leave 20 days.
Working at Bayer
Bayer provides the ideal setting for personal ability and the dynamics of the life science industry to complement each other. Employees from over 60 countries work in an innovative, inquisitive, high-energy and dynamic, multicultural environment in one of the most interesting industries in existence. They can make a key contribution through their performance to the company’s sustained success in national and international business.
Graduates
We are always welcoming young and driven candidates, who can help us to gain a new, fresh perspective. If you are a tech savvy individual who will bring bounds of energy and enthusiasm, looking for innovative, diverse and inclusive company where you can start your career, why not Bayer?
Living in Switzerland
Switzerland is a mountainous country in Central Europe with numerous lakes and high Alpine summits. It has borders with Germany, France, Austria, Italy and Liechtenstein. Its capital is Bern, while other large cities include Basel, Zurich and Geneva. In total, there are approximately 8.5 million people living in Switzerland, though there are also a great number of commuters who travel from the bordering regions into Switzerland every day. 22.7 percent of the entire population consists of citizens who do not have Swiss citizenship.
With its high quality of life, Switzerland is an extremely attractive country for many international workers, who benefit not only from the high standard of living but also attractive salaries, political stability and legal security, together with first-class infrastructure.
Switzerland can be described as a country of settlement, in the best sense of the phrase. In this context, there are numerous programs for expats, including:
www.internations.org
www.glocals.com
www.helloswitzerland.com
The Swiss currency is the franc (CHF), which is divided into 100 cents.
Stores are generally closed on Sundays and national holidays.
For more information, visit https://www.myswitzerland.com/en/home.html
Note on external links: Bayer bears no responsibility for the content of external links. The responsibility for the content of linked pages lies exclusively with the respective website operator.
The Swiss education system is broken down as follows:
Primary level (including kindergarten or entry level)
Secondary level I
Secondary level II: basic professional education and general schools (Matura grammar schools, vocational schools)
Tertiary level: higher professional education outside of university/college (federal PET diplomas and advanced federal PET diplomas, higher technical colleges) and university/college (universities, advanced technical colleges, teacher training colleges)
The education system in Switzerland is primarily the responsibility of the Cantons and Municipalities; the state is only responsible for parts of the system.
There are also various international schools focusing on teaching in English.
Find more information at:
www.Educa.ch
www.eda.admin.ch
Note on external links: Bayer bears no responsibility for the content of external links. The responsibility for the content of linked pages lies exclusively with the respective website operator.
Switzerland has four official national languages and numerous dialects.
German (63.5%)
The majority of the population lives in German-speaking Switzerland. In 19 of the 26 cantons, Swiss German dialects are mainly spoken.
French (22.5%)
French is spoken in the west of the country, in the area known as Romandy. There are four French-speaking Cantons: Geneva/Vaud/Neuchâtel/Jura. Three cantons are French-German bilingual: Bern, Fribourg and Valais.
Italian (8.1%)
Italian is spoken in Ticino and the 4 southern valleys of Grisons (Italian Grisons).
Romansh (0.5%)
The Canton of Grisons is multilingual: here, people speak German, Italian and Romansh. Romansh speakers represent just 0.5% of the population, making this the smallest Swiss language group. Within this group, there are five or six different dialects: Sursilvan, Sutsilvan, Surmiran, Putèr and Vallader, as well as Romansch Grischun, which was introduced in 1982 as a linguistic compromise between the five Romansh dialects.
Other (6.6%)
There are also many people from outside the country living in Switzerland, who also contribute towards its linguistic diversity; in fact, there are more and more people in Switzerland whose mother tongue is not one of the four Swiss languages.
In keeping with its high quality of life, Switzerland also has a very extensive range of leisure activities to offer. It is known above all for its ski regions and hiking trails, rivers and lakes, though its range of sports is also very broad, with many local clubs offering opportunities to take part in recreational sport. What’s more, Switzerland has an abundance of culture to showcase, including numerous museums, exhibitions, films, theaters and cinemas. For those keen to discover the “real” Switzerland, there are many traditional events on offer, highlighting the country’s customs. And there is also plenty on offer for music lovers of all kinds, with many music festivals and concerts, as well as over nine opera houses spread throughout the country.
Visit the following websites for more tips and information:
www.Ausflugsziele.ch
www.Myswitzerland.ch
www.conviva-plus.ch
Note on external links: Bayer bears no responsibility for the content of external links. The responsibility for the content of linked pages lies exclusively with the respective website operator.
Working in Switzerland
Nationals of EU/EFTA countries are subject to different rules from citizens of non-member countries when entering Switzerland. Responsibility lies with the State Secretary for Migration.
For relevant details, please see:
Note on external links: Bayer bears no responsibility for the content of external links. Responsibility for the content of linked pages lies exclusively with the respective website operator.
All non-Swiss nationals must hold a valid passport and a work and/or residence permit to live and/or work in Switzerland. The various types of permit are as follows:
G permits (cross-border commuter permits) are issued to people working in Switzerland but living in neighboring countries.
L permits (short-term residence permits) are issued for short-term working assignments of up to one year.
B permits (residence permits) are issued to holders of a Swiss contract of employment running for 12 months or more. They are valid for 5 years.
C permits (permits for settled foreign nationals) can be applied for after 5 years of regular and uninterrupted residence in Switzerland. They are valid for an unlimited period and afford holders more rights than B permits. Some nationalities are only permitted to apply for a C permit after 10 years’ residence in Switzerland.
Success in obtaining a work permit in Switzerland depends on various factors, though, such as country of origin, qualifications, skills and fixed quotas.
The website of the relevant cantonal AWA (Office for Economy and Labor) provides further details.
Nationals of EU-17/EFTA countries no longer need to apply for a work permit. It is granted automatically once a contract of employment is submitted to the authorities.
Further information can be found at:
www.bfm.admin.ch
www.ansiedlung-schweiz.ch
www.sem.admin.ch
Note on external links: Bayer bears no responsibility for the content of external links. Responsibility for the content of linked pages lies exclusively with the respective website operator.
The Federal government and the 26 cantons each have their own tax legislation. The taxes collected at Federal, cantonal and communal level differ in some cases.
It is advisable to obtain information from the official tax website of the relevant canton or commune before or after moving to Switzerland. A general overview of the Swiss tax system is provided at www.estv.admin.ch.
Note on external links: Bayer bears no responsibility for the content of external links. Responsibility for the content of linked pages lies exclusively with the respective website operator.
Switzerland has a comprehensive network of social security institutions to provide the people living and working in the country and their families with extensive protection against risks with financial consequences that they are unable to handle alone.
The Swiss social security system is split into five parts:
Swiss pension provision: Old-age/survivors’ insurance (AHV) and invalidity insurance (IV), based on the three-pillar principle. AHV and IV in conjunction with supplementary benefits (for when pensions and income do not cover minimum living costs) make up the 1st pillar. This is intended to cover basic needs and is mandatory. The occupational pension (pension fund), which is also mandatory, constitutes the 2nd pillar. The 3rd pillar is the voluntary private pension.
Protection against the consequences of illness/an accident
Compensation for loss of earnings during military/alternative civilian service or maternity leave
Unemployment insurance
Family allowances
The various types of insurance provide protection by making payments such as pensions, compensation for loss of earnings and family allowances, and by covering costs in the event of illness or an accident.
The payments made by the individual social security branches are primarily financed by contributions based on income from gainful employment. The Federal government and the cantons participate to differing extents in financing social security (AHV/IV). They may finance it in its entirety (supplementary benefits, EL) or help people in need pay their premiums (reduced health insurance premium).
Basic health insurance is mandatory for everyone living and working in Switzerland. Insurance must be organized with an approved health insurance company within three months of arrival in the country, including for any family members also living in Switzerland. Any approved insurance company can be selected.
A good comparison website for health insurance companies is https://en.comparis.ch/.
Note on external links: Bayer bears no responsibility for the content of external links. Responsibility for the content of linked pages lies exclusively with the respective website operator
Membership of a pension fund is mandatory for all Swiss employees below retirement age – 64 for women and 65 for men. All Swiss employers have a pension plan that employees must join. Only in exceptional cases can contributions continue to be paid in a person’s home country, which then exempts them from making payments in Switzerland. If this foreign plan is recognized by Swiss authorities, pension contributions are tax deductible.
Our locations
Basel
Bayer Consumer Care AG
Peter-Merian Str. 84
4002 Basel
Tel.: +41 58 272 72 72
With a population of around 170,000, Basel is Switzerland’s third largest city. Located right at the triple border between Switzerland, Germany and France, Basel links the southern end of the Upper Rhine Plain with the start of the High Rhine. Thanks to its geographic position and diverse cultural offering, Basel, home to one our Life Science sites, is one of the cities, alongside Geneva and Zurich, offering the highest quality of life in the world.
Frequently asked questions about the Basel site
The Basel site, which employs some 840 people, is a large international Consumer Health and Pharma Hub. It is also the headquarters of the Consumer Health Division and some of our large Pharmaceuticals unit: Oncology, ophthalmology and hematology. The site also covers the following service areas:
Strategic Marketing & Communication
Product Supply, Procurement-Purchasing & Quality Assurance
Global Innovation
Regulatory Affairs
Medical affairs
Central Administration
Controlling & Accounting
IT
Human Resources
As in the Rhineland, where Bayer’s headquarters are located (Leverkusen), the inhabitants of Basel also observe a fifth “season”: Basler Fastnacht, or Basel Carnival. The event has even been listed as part of UNESCO’s world cultural heritage due to its music and craftsmanship and the fact that this tradition is very much alive today. With around 200,000 visitors every year, Basel Carnival is the centerpiece of the city’s cultural creativity, showcasing the city’s wild side every year. The three-day event begins on the Monday after Ash Wednesday.
For more information on Basel Carnival, head to: https://www.basel.com/en/carnival-in-basel/unesco-world-cultural-heritage.
As in the Rhineland, where Bayer’s headquarters are located (Leverkusen), the inhabitants of Basel also observe a fifth “season”: Basler Fastnacht, or Basel Carnival. The event has even been listed as part of UNESCO’s world cultural heritage due to its music and craftsmanship and the fact that this tradition is very much alive today. With around 200,000 visitors every year, Basel Carnival is the centerpiece of the city’s cultural creativity, showcasing the city’s wild side every year. The three-day event begins on the Monday after Ash Wednesday.
For more information on Basel Carnival, head to: https://www.basel.com/en/carnival-in-basel/unesco-world-cultural-heritage
Absolutely! There is a long tradition of swimming in the Rhine in Basel and there are even a few river pools right in the Rhine itself. Good swimmers can while away the summer hours drifting on the current: the best entry point is at the Wettsteinbrücke bridge, from which you can float downstream to the Johanniterbrücke bridge.
Official information to be observed when swimming in the Rhine in Basel can be found on the website of the Swiss Lifeguard Association (SLRG): https://www.slrg.ch/de/nw/sektionen/basel/rheinschwimmen/basler-rheinschwimmen.html
Information on Basel’s various swimming pools can be found on the Swiss swimming pool portal: https://www.badi-info.ch/bs/basel.html
Basel’s most well-known sights are Basel Minster and the Middle Bridge. Basel’s old town is also one of Europe’s best preserved historic city centers, featuring more than 180 fountains in its narrow alleys and picturesque squares.
Basel Minster
Basel Minster is a fixed feature of the city skyline with its red sandstone, colored roof tiles and twin slim towers. The former cathedral was built between 1019 and 1500 in Romanesque and Gothic styles but has been a protestant church since the reformation in 1529.
Follow the link for more information on Basel Minster: https://www.baslermuenster.ch
Middle Bridge
The Middle Bridge is the oldest Rhine crossing in Basel and forms the border between the High Rhine and the Upper Rhine. Constructed in the first half of the 13th century, it was for many centuries the only Rhine crossing in Basel. It wasn’t until 1879 that a second bridge was built, known as the Wettsteinbrücke. The historic Middle Bridge was replaced by the one you see today in the early 20th century.
Basel is Switzerland’s capital of culture, boasting a lively theatre and music scene and almost 40 museums offering art enthusiasts a wide variety to meet every expectation. The UK newspaper, The Times, lists the Kunstmuseum Basel as the fifth best art gallery in the world and includes the Fondation Beyeler among the world’s top 50.
Kunstmuseum Basel
Pablo Picasso, Vincent Van Gogh, Paul Klee and Joseph Beuys are just some of the world-renowned artists whose works can be admired in the Kunstmuseum. Alongside its impressively extensive permanent collection, the gallery also hosts temporary exhibitions.
Follow the link for more information on Kunstmuseum Basel: https://kunstmuseumbasel.ch/en/kunstmuseum-basel
Fondation Beyeler
The Fondation Beyeler showcases classical modern masters and contemporary art collected over more than 50 years, boasting some 250 works.
Follow the link for more information on Fondation Beyeler: https://www.fondationbeyeler.ch/en/
More on art and culture in Basel: https://www.basel.com/en/art
Tourism in Basel: https://www.basel.com/en
University of Basel: https://www.unibas.ch/en.html
Kunstmuseum Basel https://kunstmuseumbasel.ch/en/kunstmuseum-basel
Fondation Beyeler https://www.fondationbeyeler.ch/en/
Art and culture in Basel: https://www.basel.com/en/art
Follow the link for more information on Basel Minster: https://www.baslermuenster.ch
Swiss swimming pool portal: https://www.badi-info.ch/bs/basel.html
Swiss Lifeguard Association (SLRG): https://www.slrg.ch/de/nw/sektionen/basel/rheinschwimmen/basler-rheinschwimmen.html
Basler Fastnacht:https://www.basel.com/en/carnival-in-basel/unesco-world-cultural-heritage
Muttenz
Bayer CropScience Schweiz AG
Rothausstrasse 61
4132 Muttenz
Tel.: +41 440465 81 11
The industrial town of Muttenz lies to the east of Basel in the Canton of Basel-Landschaft. There are around 17,000 people who live and work here. In 1983, the municipality was honored by the Swiss Heritage Society for its efforts to maintain its historic buildings in a heavily industrialized environment.
Frequently asked questions about the Muttenz site
The Muttenz CropScience site has an international focus and employs 270 people primarily in the production and global distribution of crop protection intermediates. The following areas are also covered at Bayer’s Muttenz site:
Chemistry
Pharmatechnology
Laboratory chemistry
Technical services
Logistics
Purchasing & Procurement
Over the last century, Muttenz has transformed from a farming village to a modern industrial center. Despite this industrialization, the town has managed to retain its original appearance, which now fits harmoniously with today’s lifestyles. Alongside its well-maintained historic farmhouses, Muttenz is also the home to one of Bayer CropScience’s most efficient and cutting-edge production sites in the world.
Muttenz is the ideal base for visiting a wide range of local recreational areas: extensive woodlands, nature reserves and the impressive vineyards make this small industrial hub an excellent place to live.
Sulzgrube Nature Reserve
An unique outlook over the Upper Rhine and Birs River Valleys rewards those who make it to the top of Muttenz’s Sulzchopf peak. In fine weather, you can see as far as the Vosges mountains in France and the Black Forest in Germany.
Follow the link for more information on the Sulzgrube Nature Reserve:
http://www.muttenz.ch/de/tourismus/naturundlandschaft/welcome.php?action=showobject&object_id=1778
Wartenberg Nature Reserve
The Wartenberg Nature Reserve brings together a selection of rare forest communities within a small area, while offering fascinating panoramic views studded with former quarries now housing reptiles and warmth-loving plants and the ruins of three castles.
Follow the link for more information on the Wartenberg Nature Reserve:
http://www.muttenz.ch/de/tourismus/naturundlandschaft/welcome.php?action=showobject&object_id=1776
Rütihard Nature Reserve
The Rothallenwald forest on the Rütihard is famous for its mighty, 100-year-old beech trees that create a light closed canopy. Nearby lies a beautiful valley, which has been returned to nature thanks to the cessation of woodland management.
For more information on the Rütihard, Dürrain and Fröschenegg Nature Reserve, visit:
http://www.muttenz.ch/de/tourismus/naturundlandschaft/welcome.php?action=showobject&object_id=1777
Renowned art and culture scene, its Ortsmuseum (local history museum), the Karl Jauslin Collection and the Bauernhausmuseum (farming museum) offer an attractive insight into the town’s local history. And the Kunsthaus Baselland, one of the leading exhibition venues for regional, national and international contemporary art in the Basel area, is a particular highlight.
Ortsmuseum & Karl Jauslin Collection
The Ortsmuseum in Muttenz offers visitors an insight into the local history and the village’s transformation from the Stone Age right through to today. It also has an exhibition dedicated to the historical painter and illustrator Karl Jauslin (1842-1904).
For more information on the Ortsmuseum: https://www.kimweb.ch/ortsmuseum-muttenz-und-karl-jauslin-sammlung
Bauernhausmuseum
The farmhouse, which features 19th-century fixtures and fittings, transports visitors into a farmer’s day-to-day life exactly as it was over one hundred years ago. And visitors can even try out their skills at one of the museum’s regular themed events.
For more information on the Bauernhausmuseum, visit https://www.kimweb.ch/bauernhausmuseum-muttenz
Kunsthaus Baselland
The Kunsthaus Baselland has been offering young artists a platform to showcase their works in individual, group or themed exhibitions since 1998. Housed in an unused factory building, the Kunsthaus Baselland is today one of the leading exhibition venues for regional, national and international contemporary art in the Basel area.
For more information on the Kunsthaus Baselland, visit: https://kunsthausbaselland.ch/en/
The Municipality of Muttenz: http://www.muttenz.ch/de/
Muttenz local history: https://www.heimatkunde-muttenz.ch
Kunsthaus Baselland: http://kunsthausbaselland.ch
Baselland Museum Association: https://www.kimweb.ch
Zurich
Bayer (Schweiz) AG
Grubenstraße 6
8045 Zürich
Tel.: +41 44 465 81 11
With a population of over 400,000, Zurich is Switzerland’s largest city. Its stunning position on Lake Zurich coupled with the nearby Alpine scenery and urban diversity of the city give Zurich its unique flair. Located on the eastern Swiss Plateau, Zurich is one of the world’s best cities when it comes to quality of life.
Frequently asked questions about the Zurich site
Bayer (Schweiz) AG employs around 250 people at its Zurich site, who predominantly work in marketing and distribution for the Pharmaceuticals and Consumer Health Divisions for the Swiss Market. The following areas are also covered at the site:
Clinical Research
Medicine & Regulatory Affairs
Business Services
Zurich is a former Roman town littered with countless sights to marvel at. Along with the eponymous lake, the Großmünster, an Evangelical Reformed church in the old town, is one of Zurich’s well-known landmarks. The city is also home to numerous historic squares with beautiful churches and objects d’art that invite visitors and inhabitants alike to while away the hours in all its splendor.
On warm summer nights, Zurich comes alive with spectacular open-air stages showcasing concerts sure to thrill music lovers. Whether it’s rock, classical, blues, jazz, folk or electronic music, concert- and festival-goers are guaranteed to get their money’s worth at the numerous open-air events staged in the surroundings of Lake Zurich, the historic walls and a unique mountain backdrop.
Zurich’s prominent position on the Lake means that water is an ever-present feature of life in the city, inviting you to while away the hours on the lake itself or along its shore. And if the water in the lake is just not enough, the Rhine Falls, Europe’s largest waterfall, is just a short journey from the city.
Lake Zurich is 42 kilometers long and just under 4 kilometers wide. A relaxing boat ride on the lake is the perfect way to get to know a very special side of the city and its surroundings. Whether you opt for a simple round trip with the Lake Zurich Navigation Company (ZSG) or a dream cruise on the lake, you’re in for a special experience that is well worth the money.
The Rhine Falls, at Schaffhausen, is Europe’s largest waterfall. Located on the north side of Lake Zurich, the water is a fascinating spectacle of nature: during the summer, 600 cubic meters of water fall over the rocks every second across this 150 m-wide expanse. And if the view from land is not exciting enough, you can also marvel at the Rhine Falls from the air, by climbing the ropes in the neighboring Adventure Park, one of Europe’s most spectacular rope parks.
When visiting Zurich, it’s impossible to escape the beauty of the Alps. There are guided tours up Jungfraujoch, Titlis, Rigi, Stanserhorn or Pilatus from the city every day
The world-famous Jungfraujoch is listed as one of UNESCO’s world heritage sites. At 3454 m above sea level, visitors will be stunned by the breathtaking ice, snow and mountain scenery. And before even reaching the top, passengers taking the Jungfrau railway line will be rewarded with the fascinating backdrops of the Mönch, Jungfrau and Eiger mountain massif with the world-renowned Eiger-Nordwand – the North Face of the Eiger.
Take the panoramic cableway to the summit, 2123 m above sea level, and be rewarded with a unique panoramic view over lakes and mountains. And the descent is no less spectacular either, on the world’s steepest cog railway.
The Flumserberg resort area offers a dreamlike mountain landscape that visitors can discover along its many hiking and themed trails. The region is also particularly popular with mountain bikers and extra biking trails have been created with them in mind. Cyclists can even take their bikes up the mountain with them thanks to three cableways and a chair lift.
