“We are proud to be pioneers of a new, fair and equitable social model. Smood is proof that there is a viable alternative to the black market”.

– Marc Aeschlimann
Fonder & CEO

FAIR WORKING CONDITIONS

Why is Smood making this commitment?

Since 2021, we have decided to radically change the way we work with our drivers by making socially committed choices that have led to the signing of a Collective Labour Agreement (CLA). We have also decided to pay all our drivers, to stop outsourcing and to set new standards in our industry.

We are proud to be the first delivery company in Switzerland to have made this major change. It is now our duty to initiate a wider movement by encouraging other companies to follow suit.

It’s also a question of calling on our country’s political decision-makers and opinion leaders about our strong choice in favour of ethical and respectful working conditions for all drivers in the sector.

That’s why we decided to create this label, to make our customers and partners aware of the important choices we have made. Any company, in our sector or in other industries, can ask to join us in this approach.

Smood’s concrete actions:

Each of our delivery drivers benefits from the following employment conditions:

Legal hourly wage in each canton, bonuses paid to drivers
Swiss social insurance contributions (AVS, LPP, AC, etc.)
Accident insurance paid by the employer
Compensation for private vehicle expenses
Compensation for equipment and maintenance
Payment of additional pay for Sunday work
4 weeks paid holiday per year, 5 weeks for employees under the age of 20
Guaranteed minimum shift per week (4 hours)

What’s in it for our customers?

When you choose Smood to deliver your meals and shopping, you’re choosing a responsible company that offers the best working conditions in the sector for its delivery staff. It’s the assurance of supporting a company that complies with Swiss law and thus contributes to making our economy healthier and more sustainable. Above all, it’s an ethical choice on the part of our customers, and we thank them for it.

Our salaried delivery staff are recognised for their true worth and are therefore more motivated and committed to their work. It’s a guarantee for our customers of a better quality service. The move to salaried employment is also a guarantee of security for our partners and customers. We have put in place a thorough and demanding recruitment process to ensure that the worker is competent and complies with the law. It is also impossible for a delivery driver to ‘rent out’ his account and have someone work in his place, as may be the case with our competitors’ models.

Key Figures from Drivers

70%

of our drivers are satisfied with their working conditions at Smood.

72%

of our drivers recommend Smood to friends and family

60%

of our drivers stay with Smood for a long time

18-45 years

drivers of all ages

Numbers based on data from 500+ drivers provided in 2023.

Uberisation? What are we talking about?

Gig economy, uberisation, freelance workers, work for hire… are terms that are increasingly used in the context of the digital economy. The uberisation of the job market refers to the growing trend of the on-demand economy, where self-employed workers are put in direct contact with customers via digital platforms.

The platforms offer workers the opportunity to work flexibly, choosing their own hours. They are therefore mainly aimed at those looking for an additional source of income or who prefer a more flexible way of working.

However, the uberisation of the labour market is having a negative impact on the workers themselves. They are subject to increased competition and pressure to keep prices low in order to remain competitive. What’s more, the traditional benefits of employment, such as pension schemes and social benefits, are completely absent for these self-employed workers. This leads to the casualisation of work, resulting in financial instability and the absence of a safety net for workers in this digital outsourcing.

On the other hand, companies using this outsourcing model benefit from lower costs and greater flexibility. They can easily call on workers for specific tasks, without having to bear the long-term costs associated with hiring salaried staff, thus creating distorted and unfair competition.

The uberisation of the labour market is therefore a complex phenomenon with major economic, social and political implications.