There is no snow, the temperatures are mild. This is especially concerning for ski resorts at lower elevations. You must temporarily stop skiing completely or partially.
For example Splugen GR. The systems there have been down since the beginning of this week. The ski resort in the Viamala region announced that it was no longer possible to prepare the slopes. The reason: there is too much water on the slope, the snow no longer freezes. “If there is a possibility, we will apply for a reduction in working hours,” says director Hacher Bernet of the newspaper “Südostschweiz”. Some employees are currently having to stay at home.
The situation is similar in other lower-lying ski areas. According to the canton office for industry, trade and employment, about ten pre-applications for short-time work have already been received in the canton of Graubünden for December. “This affects mountain railway companies as well as mountain restaurants and restaurants in winter sports areas,” says office manager Gian Reto Caduff (46) to Blick. Applications have already been received from mountain railways for short-time work in the canton of Bern. So far there are five, according to the unemployment insurance service of the canton of Bern.
“It needs uncomplicated short-time working arrangements”
Nicolo Paganini (56), president of the Swiss Tourism Association, said on Wednesday: “The railways that are now at a standstill need an uncomplicated reduction of working hours.” It is now about overcoming the bottleneck. Negotiations on short-time work were underway, Switzerland’s top tourism official said.
Because the ski companies cannot get short-time work as easily as during Corona if the weather does not allow normal operation. The “working time reduction for weather-related customer disruptions” is considered a restrictive special case, the payment hurdles are relatively high.
For example, the turnover in the relevant financial year may not exceed a quarter of the average of the last five years. In addition, for companies that only work seasonally, there is a waiting period for the first malfunction within a season. Their length can vary from canton to canton. The cantons are responsible for checking and approving the reduction of working hours, which also applies to absences due to unusual weather conditions.
Swiss cable cars optimistic
The thaw at the beginning of the season is appreciated less dramatically for the Swiss cable cars. Compensation for short-time work is not being discussed for the time being, it says on request: “The start of the season was not that long ago and winter is still going on. According to our seasonal monitoring, the turnover is average compared to the past five years.” The mountain railways in Switzerland have developed a high degree of resilience in recent years and could also meet this challenge.
Hans Wicki (59), Nidwalden FDP Member of the Council of States and Chairman of the Swiss Cable Cars, says: “So far we have not received a stream of news complaining that the mild temperatures and lack of snow would cause major problems for mountain railway operators. Ski areas at higher altitudes had no problems anyway.
There have already been a number of season starts with little snow, which is part of “the entrepreneurial risk of mountain railways”, says the cable car manager. A similar problem occurs, for example, when it snows a lot, because then many people stay away. “We currently see no need for action on short-time work for mountain railway companies.”