Employees
Our most important resource
Our employees are our most important asset. They drive change and get us to where we want to go. We treat them as equals, give them responsibility and focus on fair working conditions, equal opportunities, social security and personal development.
We support educational measures both for guests and for our employees. We pay particular attention to appropriate, fair wages, social security, fair employment models, integration and inclusion of employees, and an appreciative, meaningful working environment.
Bern Youth Hostel
Number of employees/
full-time positions
Number of employees
No Data Found
Number of employees
No Data Found
Number of full-time positions
No Data Found
Number of full-time positions
No Data Found
In 2023, the number of employees both in the hostels as well as in the administration increased and altogether 665 employees were employed in 376 full-time equivalents.
Wage policy
The wage system for management employees comprises fixed and variable wage components. While the fixed wage components are specified at appropriate levels according to uniform standards, the variable components derive from the achievement of individual objectives as well as the degree of budget adherence.
Youth hostel employees are subject to the «National collective agreement» (L-GAV). Administrative staff are paid according to the guidelines of the respective professional associations.
Following the principle of equal pay for men and women, the Swiss Youth Hostels pay all sexes according to the same terms/rates.
For 2023, inflation compensation of 4.4% on average was paid to the employees of the Swiss Youth Hostels. The amount of the inflation compensation was calculated based on the wage level.
Monthly wage (gross – 100% work quota) | Compensation in % |
|---|---|
Up to CHF 4,500 | 4.5 |
CHF 4,501 – 7,000 | 3.5 |
From CHF 7,001 | 2.0 |
In addition, the few remaining seasonal contracts of hostel managers were changed to annual contracts in 2023. A few years ago, the flexibility of seasonal contracts was valued, whereas today, the focus of management employees is on the security and planning capability of the future.
Share of women
No Data Found
Share of women
No Data Found
Diversity
2021 | 2022 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|---|
Number of nations | 54 | 56 | 55 |
Share of young employees up to and including 26 years old in % | 15 | 16 | 16 |
Length of service
2021 | 2022 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|---|
Average length of service in years | 3.7 | 3.5 | 3.4 |
Share of employees with | in % | in % | in % |
|---|---|---|---|
less than 5 years of service | 75.1 | 77.7 | 80.4 |
5–9 years of service | 14.8 | 11.5 | 9.5 |
10–14 years of service | 4.2 | 5.7 | 5.8 |
15–19 years of service | 3.2 | 3.0 | 2.2 |
20–24 years of service | 1.1 | 0.8 | 1.3 |
25–29 years of service | 1.1 | 0.8 | 0.4 |
more than 29 years of service | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.5 |
In 2023, 24 employees celebrated a milestone service anniversary. The Swiss Youth Hostels appreciate the high level of loyalty of their employees and are proud that in 2023, 12 employees had worked for the organisation for more than 20 years, 3 of them for more than 30 years.
Training and advanced training
Advanced training represents a key element in our efforts to boost quality for our guests and employees.
2021 | 2022 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|---|
Advanced training courses offered | 7 | 20 | 28 |
Number of participants | 218 | 286 | 324 |
Total hours of advanced training within the organisation | 3,112 | 3,704 | 3,322 |
Number of apprentices and trainees | 11 | 8 | 7 |
Number of persons in external basic/advanced training | 2 | 2 | 3 |
2022 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|
Advanced training courses offered | 20 | 28 |
Number of participants | 286 | 324 |
Total hours of advanced training within the organisation | 3,704 | 3,322 |
Number of apprentices and trainees | 8 | 7 |
Number of persons in external basic/advanced training | 2 | 3 |
Special services
Every year, employees, voluntary members of the Executive Board and delegates receive accommodation coupons allowing free usage of the youth hostels operated by the Swiss Youth Hostels. In the reporting year, benefits amounting to CHF 271,020 (prior year: CHF 240,944) were thus obtained.
Case management and social counselling
Accidents and illnesses of our employees are handled in a professional manner in cooperation with an external business partner, and all measures are taken to ensure the reintegration of affected employees. An external social counselling service is also available free of charge to all employees for personal, health-related, financial, legal or administrative matters.
The function of a hostel manager or their deputy is extremely challenging and requires a high level of resilience. At the internal conference for hostel managers and their deputies in autumn 2023 in Locarno, special attention was given to this topic in a workshop and it was discussed how to deal with pressure and exhaustion.
Pension fund
Since 1 January 2021, the Swiss Youth Hostels have been affiliated as Vorsorgewerk Schweizer Jugendherbergen (Swiss Youth Hostels Employee Benefits Unit) through the Columna Collective Foundation Client Invest.
The Staff Pension Fund Commission was composed of four employee representatives and four employer representatives:
Employee representatives: Anthamatten Chantal, Frenkel Jan (from 16.10.2023), Fricke Marco (from 01.01.2024), Zollinger Markus
Employer representatives: Bunte Janine, Dobler René, Michel-Abegg Corinne, Walter Laura (from 01.12.2023, President)
Status 01.04.2024 – elected until 31 December 2024
2021 | 2022 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|---|
Retirement assets in CHF | 20,872,177 | 21,187,563 | 20,967,135 |
Available funds in CHF | 2,243,751 | 840,230 | 1,493,581 |
Cover ratio in % | 125.01 | 115.49 | 122.11 |
Active insured persons | 369 | 411 | 420 |
Pensioners | 43 | 45 | 50 |
2022 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|
Retirement assets in CHF | 21,187,563 | 20,967,135 |
Available funds in CHF | 840,230 | 1,493,581 |
Cover ratio in % | 115.49 | 122.11 |
Active insured persons | 411 | 420 |
Pensioners | 45 | 50 |
The Swiss Youth Hostels have defined a coordination deduction of CHF 0, thus benefiting the retirement provision of part-time employees.
Persons performing civil service
Civil service is a service for young men and women who choose not to perform military service on conscientious grounds. These individuals can perform assignments in the social sector, in nature park projects or in charitable organisations. The Swiss Youth Hostels also offer opportunities for persons performing civil service.
In 2023, 152 persons performing civil service (prior year: 138) completed 6,288 service days (prior year: 5,873) at the Swiss Youth Hostels.
