A million, then it’s quiet

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Markus Mader (59) sent the email on March 24, 2023 at 1:47 PM, on a Friday. The recalled director of the Swiss Red Cross (SRK) turned to SRC president Barbara Schmid-Federer (57). With the salutation “Hello Barbara” he made her a proposal on how the SRC should handle his dismissal financially.

Barely 14 minutes later, the former CVP National Councilor forwarded the e-mail to the lawyer of the SRK. He immediately started counting. He saw Mader’s application as a “golden parachute” worth “one million Swiss francs” paid for by taxpayer donations and money.

Then “silence can return instantly”

The demand was not the only thing that caught the lawyer’s eye. Mader linked them: If the SRC accepts his proposal, it could help bring about “immediate silence”. This latest spin on the SRC emerges from dozens of emails, employment contracts and logs that Blick has.

Rest is what the SRK needs. Switzerland’s largest humanitarian aid organization, with half a million members, has been rumbling for months. What happened? Part of the Red Cross Council – the supervisory body – had not expressed confidence in director Mader, who had been in office since 2008. On the morning of December 15, the council ruled against him. Six of the ten members were in favour, four against Mader’s immediate recall. This is evidenced by a multi-page log.

According to the minutes, the four losing voters left the room immediately after the vote and informed more than 50 people about the meeting via email, including Mader. They later resigned from the Red Cross Council. With retroactive effect, the SRK director was ill that morning.

565 million francs turnover

Since then, the president and ex-director have argued over the terms of the divorce. Internal details have been leaked to various media outlets, but the reasons for Mader’s departure remain unclear.

The reputation of the respected organization has suffered. The SRC was founded in Bern in 1866 and is now responsible for the Swiss blood donation service, search and rescue on land and at sea, disaster relief and support for those in need at home and abroad. According to the bureau, the SRC had a turnover of approximately CHF 565 million in 2021. Of this, 98 million Swiss francs were private donations, inheritances and bequests. The public sector contributed CHF 157 million. In addition, there are own deposits of 277 million francs and contributions of 31 million francs. The organization employs approximately 5,300 people – and 50,000 volunteers.

You’re arguing at the highest level. It’s about money and about sensitivities. It bothers the SRK that Mader continues to act as an SRK director with third parties. The Red Cross Council had legally dismissed him from this position. Since Mader was ill, the termination could not be announced yet. Mader’s lawyer replies that his client has been released, but not fired. He is “still the director of the Swiss Red Cross”.

Mader earns about 250,000 francs

Mader’s divorce was “inevitable,” a member of the Red Cross council wrote last November. There are differences with regard to severance pay. Mader currently earns about a quarter of a million francs a year plus an expense allowance of 12,000 francs. He is demanding full pay until the end of September 2023 while still on sick leave. For two years he would like to take on an advisory role at the SRK with a workload of 80 percent, paid under the current conditions. For the remaining three years until normal retirement, the SRK pays the full employer and employee contributions to the pension fund. He also demands 10,000 francs for his legal costs.

In an earlier claim, he wanted two annual salaries without compensation and placing orders through the SRC for self-employment. Mader has never wavered from that, the SRK lawyer explains by email, because he makes the new offer dependent on one condition: the election of Manuel Bessler (64) as the new chairman of the International SRC. Since he was not elected, the more prudent offer lapses.

“It is silent on the other points”

If Mader has his way, donors and the public shouldn’t know anything. Mader proposes a press release with the following sentence: “The SRK and SRK Director Markus Mader have agreed on an amicable settlement with the continued employment of Markus Mader.” You should only inquire about your future work as a consultant. “There is silence on the other points of this agreement.”

One of Mader’s prophecies seems troublesome: “This amicable solution, in my opinion, will help the employees of the GS SRK and also most of the Red Cross organizations to immediately find peace.” Since mid-December there are “only losers in the SRK”. This should have a “quick end”.

SRK wants to terminate the employment contract

It is significant that Mader links the “amicable solution” to the occurrence of calm, the SRK lawyer writes in an e-mail to his lawyer. “This statement should be taken as an indication that your client is behind and fomenting the riots, but would be willing to calm down if their financial demands are met.”

Instead of the required “total package”, the SRC proposes to terminate the employment relationship with Mader at the end of September 2023. Until then, he will receive the agreed salary and expense allowance pro rata temporis. The SRK will give him a “benevolent job reference” and pay a seniority allowance of 2,000 francs. When you communicate, you agree.

“The figures given are not correct”

This offer is “not conducive” to his client’s recovery, Mader’s lawyer writes. He speaks of a “minimal solution”. She “shook his client given the SRC’s lack of appreciation”. Mader is 60 years old, has worked for the SRC for 25 years and will likely struggle to find an equivalent position.

When asked, Mader told Blick: “There is no parachute, the numbers given are wrong. I will continue to make my manpower and experience available to the SRC and will be compensated for it. In addition, the said proposal is derived from a specific offer from the SRC.” Emails show that a member of the Red Cross Council had discussed possible departure modalities for Mader with an HR specialist in November 2022. President Schmid-Federer never made this offer to him.

Both parties are interested in a solution

He is “very interested” in an amicable solution, says Mader. “Many people within the SRK are very upset by my resignation. If there was an agreement with me, these feelings would disappear.

When asked, SRK chairman Schmid-Federer declined to comment. She refers to the organization’s lawyer, Jürg Wernli. He says, “We’re not commenting on an ongoing process, but we’re interested in a solution.”

Source:Blick