Salary & offers
What 60%, 80% and 100% employment mean for pay
In Swiss advertisements, Pensum or taux d'activité describes the employment percentage relative to the employer's full-time schedule. It is useful only when you also know the full-time hours and whether the salary shown is the full-time equivalent.
Editorial review: 16 October 2026
Calculate hours and salary
If full time is 42 hours, 80% corresponds to 33.6 hours weekly and 60% to 25.2. If the full-time annual salary is CHF 90,000, proportional pay would be CHF 72,000 at 80%. These examples assume straightforward proportional scaling. Confirm the employer's actual figures, fixed allowances and number of payments. Ask whether the offer's annual amount already reflects the reduced percentage.
Agree how the week works
An 80% role can mean four full days or shorter hours across five days. That changes childcare, travel costs and availability for appointments. Establish fixed days, scheduling notice, peak periods and expectations for meetings on days off. Define how the responsibilities have been adjusted. A nominal reduction in hours works best when objectives and customer coverage fit the agreed schedule.
Check extra hours and deductions
SECO explains that hours above contractual working time are overtime, including for part-time employees; compensation can depend on written contractual and collective provisions. Ask how time is recorded and approved. Pension contributions, taxes and insurance arrangements may change in ways that are not proportional to gross pay. Request an illustrative payslip and compare the resulting household budget, including any reduction in commuting or childcare costs.