Swiss Work Life

10) The crazy company-wide vacation policies

Every employee is required to take at least one continuous two-week vacation annually.  Three vacation days are gifted simply for moving apartments.  Although I only started in June, I get 13 days of vacation – 3 more than I got for the whole year in my old life. 

Team Basel standing in front of the $300M Frank Gehry building

9) The fake bird nests that house the fake bird noises

Yes it took us about a month to realize that the birds’ nests dotting campus were fake.

8) The genuine approach to work/life balance

Nobody calls or emails you on the weekend.  Campus closes at 8PM - I’ve been kicked out of the building multiple times by the security guard. 

7) The reading and reflection spots

At a minimum, most buildings have an atrium.  Then there’s the bamboo garden, Japanese reflecting pool with rare fish, North American forest, hidden away libraries, rooftop reading nooks, etc. 

Imported Japanese fish

6) The company wine

What company doesn’t own several of their own vineyards?  And yes, their wine is delicious.

5) The suited guards who greet you in the morning

Some mornings I wonder if I’m going to my office or the White House.

4) The lunching/coffee culture with a smorgasbord of international dining options

Should you take your morning cappuccino at the French café or would you rather sip Turkish coffee while sitting on Moroccan rugs?  Lunch brings new decisions – Indian?  Thai?  Tapas?  Sushi?  Italian?  Four different ice cream carts magically appear during lunch.

Clarke has a Moroccan coffee

3) The other ridiculous amenities

Let’s see besides the previously mentioned wine, ice cream carts, & culinary tour of the world, main campus has a dry cleaners, several libraries, grocery store, several physicians, fully stocked pharmacy, and post office.  Did I mention the archeological dig site?  What about the five saunas at the gym?    

One of the reflection spots with an imported bonsai tree

2) The altruistic arm

Novartis continues to do great work eradicating diseases such as malaria

And the #1 reason I love working in Switzerland is …

1)  Novartis Day

I think I may be spoiled for life.