Have a say in the pension fund: Apply now

We all know the name PUBLICA. At least once a year, we receive a pension certificate from them showing the amount of pension savings we have accumulated. It also contains forecasts showing the approximate pension we can expect when we retire, depending on the performance of our investments.

Helping to shape the pension plan

It is probably less well known that ETH employees also make important decisions. This is because it is a special feature of occupational pension provision in Switzerland that the pension funds are organised on a parity basis. Parity means that an equal number of employee and employer representatives sit on the strategic management body – the parity body. 

The joint body of the ETH Domain's pension fund comprises 18 people, three representatives each from the employees and the employers of ETH Zurich, EPFL and the research institutes. Among other things, it decides on the utilisation of any surpluses, but also on the rate at which interest is paid on retirement assets.

Margot Ziekau, Stefan Karlen and Marianne Frei currently represent the interests of employees on the joint body. Stefan Karlen is stepping down at the end of the 2021-2024 term of office, while Margot Ziekau and Marianne Frei are standing for re-election. A successor is now being sought for the vacant position.

Stand for election now

Anyone who is interested in pension and personnel issues and has an idea of how financial markets work should run for a seat on the joint body. "It's important that we have representatives who are interested in the subject matter and want to play an active role in shaping it," says Margot Ziekau, who has represented the interests of employees since 2012 and has been a member of the presidium of the joint body for six years.

She estimates that the task requires a total of around one working week per year. Specifically, she has to attend four meetings a year and prepare for them in advance. If a particular topic is to be examined in greater depth in a working group, it is also possible to participate in this. It is important to Margot Ziekau that potential candidates commit to two terms of office: "Both Marianne Frei and I will be giving up our mandates at the end of 2028, and it is important that we can ensure continuity."

The elections of the employee representatives will be organised by the University Assembly. A corresponding announcement will be sent by e-mail to all ETH members in the next few days. Anyone interested in serving on the joint committee for at least two terms of office can contact the previous incumbent or the outgoing incumbent if they have any questions.