Internship contract explained: What Swiss employers and interns need to know
When an intern joins, the focus is often on introductions, training, and defining expectations. However, in the rush of the onboarding process, it’s important not to overlook the internship agreement. This document will help you to clarify the terms of collaboration and ensure that both you and the intern have a shared understanding of roles and responsibilities.
What should you discuss before signing an internship contract?
A productive internship starts with a discussion that shapes the key aspects covered in the contract. During this dialogue, it’s vital to discuss such points as:
- Responsibilities that the intern has;
- Expected duration and working schedule;
- Salary amount, payment periodicity, and benefits;
- Annual holiday entitlement;
- Restrictions that apply to confidentiality, external work, and the use of company resources;
- Termination conditions and modifications.
Once you have achieved mutual understanding and agreement on these essential terms, you can sign the internship contract and start your cooperation.
Is it possible to conclude an unpaid internship agreement?
The contract for an internship can be non-remunerated when it primarily serves as a training opportunity, where the intern gains valuable skills and knowledge rather than performing essential work for the company. However, if a trainee carries out tasks similar to those of a regular employee and contributes directly to the company’s operations, relevant compensation should be applied.
Please note that you should also consider the minimum wage requirements and ensure that the intern doesn’t receive compensation below the legally required amount.
Can you terminate an internship contract?
The internship agreement is usually concluded for a fixed period. This means that when you’re preparing the document you should specify not only the start date but also the date on which the agreement will automatically expire.
The contract also contains information about the immediate dismissal. It happens when an intern fails to act in good faith, violates company policies, disregards confidentiality rules, or neglects the assigned responsibilities.
Additionally, it’s possible to terminate the document by mutual consent. For example, if the employer and intern agree that the internship is no longer beneficial for either party.
How should you write an internship contract?
Using our online contract for an internship, the only thing you need to do is enter the necessary details, and the document will automatically adjust in real time based on your inputs. During the process, we encourage you to follow four key tips.
Specify the responsibilities of an intern
It’s better to include not just a job title but also the responsibilities a trainee will have. By providing a comprehensive overview of duties, you ensure transparency regarding expectations. As a result, the intern can fully understand the role and contribute more effectively.
Define the working schedule
If you want an intern to be available during certain days and hours (for example, Monday to Friday from 9 AM to 5 PM), your agreement must specify an attendance schedule. However, if the schedule is flexible, you can only include the total number of hours the intern is required to work.
Ensure proper compensation and vacation entitlement
As we have already mentioned, the compensation that the intern receives should comply with the minimum wage requirements in your canton. In addition to the salary itself, make sure to include the vacation entitlement, which must be at least four weeks for interns who work full-time.
Please note that interns under the age of 20 are entitled to an additional week of vacation.
Clarify confidentiality obligations
An internship agreement that you will prepare with our builder includes a section that requires the trainee to protect the secrecy of all confidential information obtained during the internship. However, if you want to be even more specific, it’s possible to outline the strictly confidential details, as well as the period of confidentiality. Once these details are clearly defined, there is a higher level of protection for sensitive information.
Prepare your internship agreement with a professionally drafted online contract
Navigating legal requirements for an internship agreement can be complex. However, our online contract created by Swiss lawyers simplifies the overall process. With the pre-filled sections, there’s no need to stress about legal terminology or formatting. Just complete the required fields and download your agreement.
The prepared document doesn’t need to be reviewed by legal professionals. So, you can use it immediately after creation.
