“In days past, the Swiss social state was not as established as it is today. People in desperate situations often did not get the help they needed”, explains Heinz Marti, CEO of the Kalkfabrik Netstal AG. Which, along with the warm heart of the owners, laid the foundation of a relief fund in the middle of the 20th century. At the same time, a sickness relief fund was created. It has merged with the general relief fund by now.
Unique solutions for KFN workers
While the importance of the relief fund decreased as the Swiss welfare state grew, it is still important today, says Heinz Marti: “The relief fund helps us to find solutions unique for our company. We do not just want to leave our employees to themselves if they have problems.” Physical ailments are an example. “We have supported some of our former employees if they wanted to retire early. Their work was a lot more demanding physically, as there was less machinery to support them”, says Heinz Marti. Other employees were extremely grateful that the company took on their debts, to be repaid over a longer period of time. “Having to declare an insolvency is never nice. Standing by the employees in such a situation is all the more important”, concludes Marti.