PEOPLE

PEOPLE ATTRACTION, DEVELOPMENT AND RETENTION 

The success of Sunrise depends to a large extent on the expertise, experience and commitment of its employees.   

Fair, equal recruitment, attractive remuneration and benefit offers as well as opportunities for progression are critical elements for recruitment. Personnel development focuses on different target groups, such as young talents, graduates, and managers, and on an appreciative feedback culture. Regular surveys are conducted among employees, and, as part of the Connected Conversations, quarterly feedback discussions are held between employees and their line managers. Mistakes are seen as a learning opportunity and the assumption of responsibility and creative freedom is encouraged. This establishes an atmosphere of trust that encourages employees to champion innovation and deliver excellence. 

The "RiseUP" programme invests intensively in the leadership development of over 500 leaders. This promotes behaviour and skills in line with our values and goals. 

Sunrise employees’ commitment and satisfaction are supported by embracing a flexible working model that is enshrined in guidelines for flexible working and even working abroad. This facilitates a range of lifestyles, promotes diversity among employees and rewards performance.  

DIVERSTIY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION 

Sunrise maintains a vibrant, cosmopolitan environment in which different opinions are heard, perspectives are shared, and values are respected. Sunrise believes that providing equal opportunities for everyone is crucial for the company’s long-term success. Around 3100 employees from over 80 nations reflect a wide variety of languages, cultures, and religions. Their expertise, innovative thinking and exceptional commitment all help to make Sunrise successful. 

When it comes to gender balance, there is still room for improvement and Sunrise is pursuing this with high priority – the company is planning to make significant progress through managers taking greater responsibility, establishing standardised recruitment processes, and taking a more proactive approach to promoting women, especially in technical areas. In addition to gender identity, the focus is on other dimensions of diversity (e.g. ethnic diversity, age) to ensure appropriate representation of society and Sunrise customers. 

The «YouBelong!» DE&I programme is helping to create an environment in which everyone can develop their full potential. Mutual respect, appreciation and openness to different backgrounds and perspectives all create a safe space that promotes a sense of belonging and creates identity. The statement «YouBelong!» is of genuine importance at Sunrise, both in its public discourse as a company and as an employer, and this extends to the relationships it maintains with its employees, customers, suppliers, shareholders and local communities. 

With four Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), diversity is being strengthened in the areas of gender, LGTBQIA+, ability and neurodiversity, and race and ethnicity. Targeted funding supports these networks in creating a bottom-up, inclusive, and open corporate culture in which every employee is respected, recognised and empowered. 

Sunrise is a member of Advance, Switzerland’s leading business association for gender equality, and part of Ringier’s EqualVoice initiative, which promotes gender equality and enables women to have an equal voice and participate in political, economic, and social affairs. 

Sunrise has been committed to equal pay for many years and in 2023 this was recognised when Sunrise was awarded the Advanced certificate from Fair-ON-Pay. Sunrise was also awarded the LGBTI Label in 2023. This quality label, which is awarded by the independent NGO of the same name, is recognition of its intensive efforts to promote diversity, equality, and inclusion. 

HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELL-BEING  

Occupational safety and health protection are guaranteed by comprehensive health and safety concepts along with mandatory training. Generous insurance benefits are offered in the event of absence from work due to illness or accident.  

Sunrise employees benefit from various preventive measures for their physical and mental health. As part of the comprehensive benefits package, which focuses on employee wellbeing as a whole, generous opportunities for extended holidays are offered, including holiday purchase and unpaid leave. In addition, free professional psychological counselling is provided via an external EAP provider (Employee Assistance Programme), and webinars, training, and an app on the topics of mindfulness and mental strength are offered. Sunrise also offers a free flu vaccination every year. In 2024, there will also be an increased focus on nutrition and balance with an external partner to promote the holistic health of employees. 

SUPPORTING LOCAL COMMUNITIES  

In mid-2023, Sunrise introduced its volunteering programme with the aims of inspiring employees to get involved in charitable work and of enabling them to participate in voluntary activities and make a difference in their local communities. The volunteering programme anchors the collective employment contract (CEC) regulation that has been in place since 2022, according to which all Sunrise employees can take up to two days (16 hours) of paid volunteer work per year. Employees can invest these two days either in their own personal volunteer work (personal volunteering) or sign up for a Sunrise volunteer assignment (Sunrise volunteering). A wide range of activities, such as collecting and sorting old clothes with Caritas, mapathons with the Swiss Red Cross and lots of personal volunteer work, have already been carried out since the programme was launched.