The Sections
The Sections
A confidential space dedicated to your occupational health
Work plays an important role in our lives, and sometimes it can take a toll: persistent pain, fatigue that won’t go away, schedules that are hard to keep up with, absences that cause concern, or tension within the team.
IHST supports employees of partner companies with all these issues. Our nurses and specialists are bound by professional confidentiality: what you share with us remains confidential.
There’s no need to wait until the situation becomes serious to contact us. If something is on your mind, that’s reason enough.
Contact us in complete confidence
How We Can Support You
A primary healthcare contact
A persistent symptom, unusual fatigue, or work-related pain: you can talk to a nurse about it. We take the time to listen to you without judgment and, if necessary, refer you to the most appropriate professional.
Staying Connected While You're Away
Being away can make you feel disconnected from your work and your team. If you’d like, we’ll stay in touch with you to help you prepare for your return, at your own pace. This is by no means a form of monitoring: you’re free to accept or decline at any time.
A suitable workstation
Monitor, chair, repetitive movements, organization: We analyze your work situation with you—because you know it best—and suggest concrete improvements.
A Return to Work Planned Together with You
Whether it’s a gradual return to work or adjustments to your job or schedule, we’ll coordinate with your employer to ensure your return goes smoothly. Your diagnosis will never be disclosed, and no information will be shared without your consent.
A trusted individual who is not part of the chain of command
A conflict, a harassment situation, or an uncomfortable issue that’s hard to discuss with your manager or Human Resources: if your company has set up this service, you can contact an independent trusted advisor. They’ll listen to you, explain from the outset what will remain confidential, and you decide how to proceed.
Prevent rather than wait
Many difficulties can be avoided—or mitigated—when they are addressed early on. Our role is also to help you maintain your health, not just to restore it.
Health Screenings
Some diseases develop silently over a long period of time, and detecting them early often makes all the difference. Depending on the program offered by your employer, we provide preventive health screenings to assess your cardiovascular risk (blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, lifestyle habits) and your risk of cancer (family history, risk factors, and recommended screenings based on your age).
These screenings are intended to provide an overview, not to make a diagnosis. Your results are explained to you personally, and you are the only person who receives them. If further testing is recommended, we will refer you to your primary care physician.
Prevention campaigns throughout the year
Sleep, stress management, physical activity, nutrition, back health and posture, vaccinations, and screenings: We organize prevention campaigns at your workplace throughout the year.
Workshops, drop-in sessions, short presentations, and practical information are all accessible opportunities to take care of yourself without interfering with your workday. Your employer will provide you with the program.
Night Work
Night work places significant demands on the body: sleep, nutrition, alertness, and family life. If you regularly work nights (at least 25 nights a year), the law entitles you to a health examination and personalized advice, covered by your employer. We’re here to talk with you about this and help you figure out what will help you stay on track over the long term.
Shift work or irregular schedules
When work schedules change frequently, it becomes difficult to sleep well, recover, and maintain a healthy work-life balance. We’ll work with you to assess your rhythm and provide practical guidelines (sleep, light, meals, breaks). If organizational adjustments are needed, we’ll suggest them to your employer—without ever discussing your personal health.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Your workplace must be safe for you and your child. Certain tasks, exposures, or work schedules—particularly night shifts—are subject to special protections. We’ll inform you of your rights, work with you to ensure that the risks associated with your job have been assessed, and support you in communicating with your employer.
Tensions and Conflicts
A lingering disagreement, a deteriorating atmosphere, hurtful words: a conflict is much easier to resolve when addressed early on. We help you take a step back and identify the best way forward for you. No action is taken without your consent.
Workplace Hazards
A machine that concerns you, a product whose effects you’re unsure of, a load that’s too heavy, a painful movement at the end of the day, constant pressure: your on-the-job experience is invaluable. During the risk assessments we conduct at your workplace, we visit the site and gather feedback from the people actually doing the work. The law also grants you the right to be consulted on health and safety issues that affect you. You can also report a risk to us directly: we’ll forward the report and ensure your anonymity is protected.
Let's talk about your work situation
An initial 30-minute, no-obligation consultation to understand your needs and offer you tailored solutions.
Contact Us
Phone
+41 78 607 04 40
Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
contact@ihst.ch
We'll get back to you within 48 hours
What Your Employer Knows—and What They Don't Know
That's often the first question people ask. Here's our answer, in the spirit of full transparency.
Any information shared with your employer will be discussed with you beforehand. The only exceptions are situations provided for by law, such as a serious danger to yourself or others. In such cases, you will be notified.
Your employer may receive
Your employer never receives
Your ability to return to work
Your Diagnosis
The accommodations needed for your position
The content of your communications with us
A scheduled return date
Your medical records
Anonymous statistics: number of requests, general topics
The fact that you consulted the trusted person
Your Rights
Many difficulties can be avoided—or mitigated—when they are addressed early on. Our role is also to help you maintain your health, not just to restore it.
You remain free
You may accept or decline contact from us, as well as participation in surveys and campaigns, at any time.
Your data belongs to you
You may request to access, correct, or delete your personal information, in accordance with the Federal Data Protection Act (nLPD).
Your health information is protected
They are stored separately, and only the professionals working with you have access to them.
Contact Us
This service is reserved for employees of IHST partner companies. Your employer has provided you with the contact information (via the intranet, a notice board, or an information session).
When contacting us for the first time, please do not attach any medical documents to your email. If necessary, we will provide you with a secure way to send them.
Contact Us
Employee Hotline
+41 00 000 00 00
Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
On-site Support Desk
According to the schedule posted at your company
In case of an emergency
If your company has an internal emergency service or procedure (first-aid station, internal emergency number, first responders, security), follow it first: it will coordinate the response and call for emergency assistance.
The numbers below should only be contacted if there is no internal emergency service or procedure, or if no one responds immediately in the event of a life-threatening emergency. The IHST is not an emergency service: outside of the infirmary’s operating hours, or if your company does not have an infirmary, do not contact us in an emergency.
| Number | Service | When to Call |
|---|---|---|
| 144 | Ambulance, emergency medical services | Fainting, accident, serious injury, chest pain, loss of consciousness |
| 117 | Police | Immediate danger, assault, threat |
| 118 | Firefighters | Fire, smoke, gas leak, chemical contamination |
| 112 | European Emergency Number | Works from any phone, including a foreign cell phone |
| 145 | Tox Info Switzerland | Poisoning, ingestion, or contact with a hazardous substance |
| 1414 | Rega, helicopter rescue | Accident in the mountains or in a hard-to-reach area |
| 143 | A Helping Hand | Need to talk right away—emotional distress |
| 147 | Pro Juventute | Children, Youth, and Apprentices in Difficult Circumstances |
| 142 | Support for Victims of Domestic Violence | Confidential support; in case of immediate danger, call 117 |
| 0800 140 140 | Roadside Assistance | Vehicle breakdown or traffic accident with no injuries |
Frequently Asked Questions
Could consulting the IHST be detrimental to me?
No. Our professionals are bound by professional confidentiality. Your employer will not receive your diagnosis or the details of our discussions. Our role is to help you, not to evaluate you.
Will my manager find out that I contacted you?
No, unless you want us to. Any communication with us will not be reported to your superiors.
What if the problem is actually with my manager?
This happens more often than you might think, and you can talk to us about it. We'll work with you to find the best way forward, and we won't take any action without your consent.
I don't have any health issues. Can I still contact you?
Of course. Whether you have a question about your schedule, your job, a pregnancy, stress at work, or simply need some advice—it’s never too early to talk about it.
Are the results of my health checkup shared with my employer?
No. Your results are provided to you personally and remain confidential. Your employer can only receive aggregate, anonymous statistics—such as the number of participants in a campaign.
Am I required to participate in evaluations or campaigns?
No. Participation is voluntary, and your decision will have no impact on your employment.
If I report a hazard, will my employer know it was me?
We share the report, not the person who submitted it, and take care to protect your anonymity. In fact, it is often by cross-referencing multiple observations that we identify a risk.
Should I go through my manager or Human Resources?
No. You can contact us directly using the contact information provided by your company.
Is it worth it for me?
No. The services are covered by your employer as part of its partnership with the IHST. If any service were to be an exception, you would be notified in advance.
Does the IHST replace my doctor?
No. We work in conjunction with your primary care physician, never in their place. If your situation calls for it, we encourage you to consult with them and, with your consent, we can coordinate with them.