Swiss Post I/T in the Portuguese capital
Radiant sun, an old yellow tram and the aroma of “pastel de nata”. Yes, you guessed it, we’re in Lisbon. Take a behind-the-scenes look at our I/T campus in the Portuguese capital.
A year ago, the I/T campus in Lisbon opened its doors in the heart of the city. To date, 59 I/T employees work here, with 12 different nationalities represented. It’s a small-scale office that still reflects the wide cultural diversity of Portugal. In this article, we will take you on a whistle-stop tour of the I/T campus from the comfort of your own home.
Just a reminder: the “Swiss Post I/T Portugal” site enables acquisition of the IT and technological skills required in the European labour market. The fact is that Swiss Post is facing a lack of IT specialists. The company is following the trend towards digitization and is duty bound to respond to its customers by developing more digital services. Another issue is that IT professionals in Switzerland are in short supply and unable to fill vacancies. As a result, the staff at the IT campus are especially active in the fields of system development, data analysis, business analysis and cybersecurity.
Guided tour of the campus
What better way to get to the campus than by walking there? We take a route right through the middle of the Portuguese capital, nestled between colourful facades, cobblestones, greenery and the hustle and bustle of the city. Upon arriving, we can make out the Swiss Post logo lit up through the sliding glass door, which is in the middle of a plant wall. We go through the door and come to the “backstage” area of the I/T campus, where the offices are spread over two floors. On the ground floor, we find a sofa in Swiss Post colours, green plants, meeting rooms with glass windows, workplaces and even small yellow workspaces. As we explore the backstage area of the campus, we’re greeted by a host of smiles. The people we meet share their satisfaction with us and their motivation to work for Swiss Post. You can feel the positive energy in the air!
We continue our tour upstairs and even come across a vending machine branded “I/T with a plus”. The large open-plan kitchen upstairs has a flowery ceiling and a very modern atmosphere. There are lots of workplaces, work areas and private offices here. In summary, it is a modern campus where everyone feels at home, deftly combining the Swiss Post colours with the Lisbon atmosphere.
A different work culture
Beyond the I/T campus, which differs from our traditional Swiss offices, a unique atmosphere greets you in Lisbon. And yes, the work culture in Portugal is different. Think of it like the sun turning up to your meetings. You get a real sense of warmth, boundless creativity and incredible teamwork between colleagues.
The staff at the campus are especially proud of working for Swiss Post, and we can see this satisfaction in their day-to-day work in particular. As far as daily working life is concerned, people like to start a bit earlier in Lisbon. Here, the working day starts closer to 9 a.m. and finishes at about 6 p.m. Talking of hours, Portugal is one hour behind Switzerland. However, our campus employees assure us that this does not have a big impact on working with Switzerland. But what about the old coffee and croissant routine? Here in Lisbon, it’s a pastel de nata and a coffee. But, between you and me, we’ve found something even better: pão de Deus! Tantalizing coconut-flavoured brioche buns.
We’d say the I/T campus is a perfect blend of Portuguese culture and Swiss Post innovation. This blend provides a dynamic, inspiring working environment for the staff here, who come from all over the world.
