Tribune de Genève On Wednesday night, in the presence of Brigitte Rosset and state counsellor Luc Barthassat in the courtyard of Geneva’s town hall, 60 wine experts tasted 650 local wines. 56 were awarded medals. Gamay and chasselas were the best represented grape varieties, unsurprising given they make up two thirds of Geneva’s grape production. […]
Frontaliers hit hardest by proposed changes to Geneva’s tax rules
Tribune de Genève According to the newspaper Tribune de Genève, proposed changes to Geneva’s tax rules, designed to pull in an extra CHF 28 million of tax revenue, will hit cross-border workers hardest. The changes, to be put before the canton’s Grand Council as part of the 2016 budget, will replace deductions for actual travel […]
Festivities, song and fire strikes Happy Valley
June is a particularly important month in Happy Valley. It’s more than just the month that signals the arrival of wonderful festivals in the area, ranging from classics in Cully, to flamenco in Renens. And it’s more than simply the month that kicks off clearance sales at Movenpick Wine. (Check out the marked down Albarino. […]
Swiss vote results 14 June 2015 – 2 Yes and 2 No
The results of the votes are largely as predicted. The vote to allow the genetic selections of embryos for certain parents passed with nearly 62% in favour. Voters in Vaud and Geneva were strongly in favour both with “yes” votes of more than 80%. Plans to change how TV-radio licences are charged and who must […]
What are your staff saying behind your back? Coaching could provide answers
“I can see that my manager is trying really hard but it’s not working. The team is unmotivated and always complaining about what everyone else is doing. My manager does nothing to fix it. Working here is no fun so I am looking for a new job.” Sound familiar? Coaching could provide answers. If […]
Swiss vote on genetic selection of embryos – playing god or playing fair?
Sunday’s federal vote will include an issue that has divided political parties, and may give rise to some lively debate at home. It’s about whether to allow diagnostic screening of an embryo prior to its implantation in the womb. Pre-implantation diagnostics, which analyse the cell structure and genetic makeup of an embryo, will only be […]
A critical look at national branding – Milan expo 2015
When people talk about brands, they often talk about products, services or experiences — from Coca-Cola and Apple computers, to Hertz rental cars and Walt Disney World. But what about countries? We may not often consciously talk about “Brand Japan” or “Brand Italy”, but all countries possess, to varying degrees of strength and clarity, a […]
More money for students? – Swiss vote
On 14 June 2015 Swiss voters will decide whether to increase tertiary student bursaries and make them a federal rather than a cantonal matter. Presently, bursaries are determined and paid by cantons and vary significantly from canton to canton. In 2013 the highest annual average of CHF 9,365 was in Vaud and the lowest of […]
Swiss vote to tax inheritance
On 14 June 2015 Swiss voters will be asked if they want to impose a 20% federal tax on inheritance. Gifts and donations while alive would also be caught by the tax. Currently inheritance tax is a cantonal matter and most Swiss cantons don’t levy any. The proposal The new federal tax of 20% would […]
Swiss TV-radio fee vote – out of control “tax“ or pragmatic step forward?
Some who move to Switzerland from abroad might not be aware that they are almost certainly required to pay one of the world’s highest broadcasting licence fees. An annual Swiss licence costs CHF 451.101 per household compared to a UK one, which costs CHF 210 (£145.50) – less than half. When you arrive in Switzerland […]
