Peaceful factories
Nostalgia for the period of the “Glorious Thirty” also stems from the entrepreneurial model prevailing in most Swiss industries at the time. These companies presented themselves as family units, supposedly protective, formative and structuring for the entire community. Economic prosperity contributed to the generalization of a social partnership based on “Labor Peace”. It got its name from the contracts that companies and unions in the metal sector had signed as early as 1937. The emergence of entrepreneurial models centered on fostering strong employee loyalty was aided by labor peace, which was founded on consensus, negotiation, and the rejection of conflict resolution tactics like strikes or management’s temporary layoffs of the entire workforce (lock-outs). In this way, trade unions and employers worked together to develop professional solidarity and a sense of belonging to the company, which were seen as beneficial for both employee well being and work performance. As the region’s main employer, Paillard adopted an all-embracing corporate policy that echoed the 19th century industrial paternalism. The company introduced measures of protection, training and leisure for its staff, whose loyalty is rewarded throughout their careers. However, it offers less attractive prospects for women and immigrants, who were most often confined to lower-paid, menial tasks. Moreover, it did not tolerate dissent and implemented a strict policy of systematic dismissal in such cases.