Are sustainable work models a luxury?

Last week, the program “Forum” on Radio SRF1 aired a segment on the topic of “lifestyle part-time work.” This refers to voluntary part-time work undertaken for the sake of quality of life. It is not, therefore, about reducing one’s workload due to childcare, health issues, or education and training. The segment focused explicitly on people over the age of 50 and presented this trend in a critical light. From our perspective, however, the segment falls short.

After more than six years of experience with a 35-hour workweek at full pay, we can say: Fewer working hours do not automatically mean lower performance.

Our key findings:

• Experienced artisans work significantly more efficiently and precisely. Their years of experience make them more productive than mere hours on the clock could indicate.
• With our system, employees sometimes work well beyond retirement age, thereby remaining actively engaged in the workforce.
• Motivation and identification with our company, our products, and our customers are exceptionally high.
• Regular rest ensures significantly fewer absences due to illness as well as long-term physical and mental performance.
• More free time creates new perspectives and fosters fresh inspiration. This is a crucial factor, especially in the demanding field of arts and crafts.
• Despite the reduced workload, we experience a high level of commitment and flexibility in our daily work. Taking on additional tasks—even if this occasionally means longer workdays—has never been a source of conflict for us.

Of course, we are aware that our industry is not representative when it comes to the discussion about the systemic shortage of skilled workers. Yet we are convinced that some of these arguments can also be applied to other industries.

I myself worked 50 to 70 hours a week with great enthusiasm for over 20 years. At some point, however, you realize: Either the quality suffers, or your body can’t keep up anymore. Demanding craftsmanship requires the highest precision.

That is why, in our view, sustainable work models are not a luxury, but a prerequisite for long-term quality.

Below, we present new pieces of jewelry from our studio, the creation of which would not have been possible without the expertise and years of experience of our team. In recent months, we have dedicated ourselves exclusively to the production of earrings. This was a challenge not only in terms of design but also in terms of sourcing, as two identical stones are required for each pair.