Swiss telecoms operator Sunrise has begun issuing redundancy notices to 358 employees, after reducing its planned job losses from an initial maximum of 450 following consultation with staff representatives and the Syndicom union.
The company said, “Sunrise will be implementing 358 redundancies for operational reasons – the reduction of 450 positions that were originally proposed has been reduced in number significantly thanks to the proposals put forward by the employee representatives and Syndicom.”
Furthermore, Sunrise said that the job cuts form part of a multi-year reorganisation intended to improve competitiveness and efficiency. The company is also reviewing supplier contracts and other external costs.
The 358 roles represent roughly one in seven of Sunrise’s approximately 2,900-strong workforce.
The restructuring follows an earlier round of 147 job cuts announced at the start of 2026 and completed during the summer, bringing the potential total for the year to around 600 positions. Sunrise said retail-store, sales and customer-service staff would largely be spared in the latest round, while apprentices would not be affected.
Sunrise Employees Who Completed 62nd Year May Be Able To Take Early Retirement
Sunrise announced in September that it was reviewing its operating model and considering up to 450 job cuts, or just under 16% of its workforce. After the statutory consultation process, the final figure was reduced to 358.
The company said proposals from employee representatives and Syndicom helped reduce the number of redundancies and expand benefits under the social plan, particularly for older staff. Sunrise is also offering a voluntary redundancy programme in selected areas.
Sunrise says a social plan applies to affected employees. Workers aged between 58 and 62 who enter the plan are covered by additional age-related rules that can extend social-plan benefits.
Employees who have completed their 62nd year may be able to take early retirement, with Sunrise continuing to pay both employee and employer contributions to the pension fund. The company has not publicly specified severance amounts, eligibility for the voluntary programme, or how many staff may choose that route.
Financial Pressure
The cuts come despite Sunrise’s improving financial performance. The company reported revenue of CHF 2.98 billion in 2025, down 1.1% from 2024, while narrowing its net loss to CHF 112.2 million, a 69% improvement year on year.
But does the speed of the dismissals reflects pressure on management to lift profitability?
The company has not said which locations or functions will bear the brunt of the cuts, beyond indicating that several sites may be affected.
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