Lots of people do this without really knowing what it entails. Someone has a main job and is offered the chance to work for another employer for a few hours a week as well. Or they have two part-time jobs. In Switzerland, this is perfectly legal. The law does not prohibit it. But there are a few things that work differently from what you might expect.
With the AVS, it’s straightforward: each employer deducts and pays their own contributions based on the salary they pay you. Both contributions count towards your individual AVS account. Where things start to get complicated is with the LPP, the second pension pillar. If your salary at one of your two jobs is below around 22,050 francs a year, that employer is not obliged to enrol you in a pension fund. That part of your salary is excluded from the second pillar without anyone telling you.
There is another aspect that many people overlook: the employment contract. Some contracts include clauses prohibiting employees from working for third parties without the employer’s authorisation, particularly if there is a competitive relationship. In some sectors, this is also regulated by the collective agreement. If you don’t check your contract and end up working for a competitor, there could be real consequences. And if something goes wrong at your second job – such as sick leave or time off due to an accident – you also need to know from the outset which of the two employers is liable and to what extent. Many people only realise this when it’s too late.