Employees hope for bankruptcy: Boss does not pay salaries

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“Transparent, honest, fair”: This is the slogan that the Lucerne real estate company Immobilien-Börse AG promotes on its website. But looks are deceiving. The CEO has accumulated millions of dollars in corporate debt in recent years.

Immobilien-Börse AG deals with houses and apartments that are maintained by 70 professionals, according to its website. “The Observer” spoke with six former employees. The word that comes up most often: “exhausting.” They say a large portion of the workforce is quitting. Reason: The boss stopped paying salaries.

More than 20 affected people lose wages and benefits of between 15,000 and 75,000 francs. “The CEO can do anything,” says Barbara Krebs (name changed), “and the government watches. “I can’t understand why the company hasn’t gone bankrupt yet.”

Employees wish to remain anonymous due to ongoing legal proceedings. Upon the question of the “Observer”, the CEO denied any allegations. He explains that “a restructuring plan is in place” to prevent economic troubles.

From helicopter rides to lack of pay

When Anita Meier (name changed) joined the real estate exchange a few years ago, the company was thriving. Meier and his former colleagues talk about an innovative work environment, high bonuses and their bosses’ expensive sports cars. They celebrated summer festivals and anniversaries in style. “We even got paid for helicopter flights,” Meier recalls.

Two years ago the company began to falter. According to two employees, their boss was abroad for several months and never heard from him again. “We were sitting in the office with no orders,” Meier says.

In Switzerland, the boss paid part of the salary and gave orders. Until salary payments stopped completely.

“Available 24 hours a day”

The CEO denies these allegations: “Since I took over the company, I have been with the employees around the clock.” He also denies the claim that he did not pay his employees: “Salary payments were made with a slight delay in 2023.” However, it resolved all outstanding receivables.

Andreas Studer (name changed) laughs when he learns the explanation. “Neither I nor my employees received any wages,” he says emphatically. Studer has been fighting for his salary for a year. “What bothers me the most is that the authorities do nothing. We’re on our own.”

The Lucerne bankruptcy office confirms to the “Observer” that no bankruptcy proceedings have been filed against the real estate exchange. As can be seen from the debt collection record summary at the end of January, the chairman of Immobilien-Börse AG made legal proposals in over 40 debt enforcement cases. Creditors include not only former employees but also private clients, advertising agencies and tax authorities. There is also still 600,000 francs outstanding in the pension fund.

More than 40 cases prevented

The person who had the surgery denies the crime with a legal offer. Creditors then have to go to court. Employees confirm that legal advice is provided in all their operations. From mid-December to the end of February, arbitration hearings were held in the labor court, involving up to twelve claimants, but the CEO did not appear at the hearings without excuse. Employees are now forced to take the money back into their hands and sue the company.

When asked, his boss claimed that he could not attend appointments due to coronavirus. Even though they were apart for a few weeks. He also reaches out to postal workers: “I can imagine that various letters were deliberately not forwarded to me,” he continues.

However, if the company goes bankrupt, employees can be paid bankruptcy compensation worth a maximum of four months’ wages. If a company postpones its bankruptcy, for example through legal bids, those affected have no choice but to sue. In the meantime, if they cannot find a new job immediately, they can apply for unemployment insurance.

“It was all a lie”

The president of the real estate exchange continues his business as usual. He posts apartment listings on Instagram and hires new staff. Jana Schmid (name changed) joined the company at the end of 2023. “The interview was extremely professional. I was assured that I would soon receive a raise,” she says. “Today I know it was all a lie.”

«There were only ten people left in the office. So I asked why we had such a large office space. The boss said he would restock soon.” A few weeks later, the workforce was sent to work from home.

“I was paid my wages a month late and only after repeated requests,” says Jana Schmid. She resigned during the probationary period.

Source :Blick