Remote Work and Cross-Border Workers: Rules, Limits, and Where to Set Up Your Office
The 500 CHF/month question
Remote work has exploded since 2020. For cross-border workers, it's both an opportunity and a regulatory minefield. Working from home on the French side when you're employed in Switzerland — what exactly changes? The short answer: potentially your taxation, social coverage, and transport budget. The long answer is this article.
The 25% rule: what the law says in 2026
Since the bilateral Switzerland-EU agreement of July 2023 (renewed in 2024 and made permanent), cross-border workers can telework up to 25% of their working time from their country of residence (France) without affecting their Swiss social security affiliation.
Concretely, in a 5-day work week, you can work 1 day from home without consequences. That's the threshold not to exceed. If you cross 25%, you potentially switch to French social security, which would change your contributions, LPP, and health coverage. It's a major change that most employers seek to avoid.
What's allowed without risk
One day of remote work per week (20%). Occasional days at home for personal reasons (medical appointment, delivery, transport strike). Remote work during partial sick leave, if your doctor authorizes it.
What requires vigilance
Two days per week of remote work (40%). That's above the 25% threshold. Some companies allow it based on temporary framework agreements, but legal risk exists.
Three or more days per week from France. That's clearly beyond the threshold. Your employer faces potential reclassification of your workplace and you risk complete transfer to French social security.
The tax impact of remote work
Taxation is separate from social security. For Geneva withholding tax, days teleworked from France are in principle taxable in France (not Switzerland). However, the Franco-Swiss amicable agreement of 2020 (extended multiple times) neutralized this impact until 2023.
Since 2024, the rule has returned to normal: days worked in France are theoretically taxed in France. In practice, the impact is limited for one day per week, as the Franco-Swiss tax treaty provides a tax credit mechanism. But for 2-3 days per week, the tax impact can be significant.
Pragmatic advice: stay under 25% (1 day/week) to avoid any complications. Beyond that, consult a fiduciary specializing in cross-border taxation.
Working from home when you live in a flatshare or coliving
The practical question of remote work, beyond regulation, is: do you have a decent place to work? In a studio, the answer is yes — but with the drawbacks of total isolation for 8 hours. In traditional flatsharing, it's often problematic: noise, shared space, unstable WiFi, no dedicated desk.
The coliving advantage for remote work
At La Villa Coliving, each room is equipped with a desk and work chair. Fiber optic internet is sized so 10 people can have simultaneous video calls without slowdown. Common areas offer alternatives: dining table for a change of scenery, garden in summer for informal calls, living room for collaborative work.
WiFi is a critical point for remote work. Our houses are equipped with fiber optic (1 Gbps download) with WiFi 6 access points in each room. No "sorry, WiFi's lagging, can you repeat?" during a Teams call with your manager in Geneva.
The coliving ecosystem as "mini-coworking"
An unexpected advantage of coliving for remote workers: you're not alone. When 3-4 residents work from home on the same day, it creates an informal coworking atmosphere. Coffee breaks are shared, lunch is collective, and the isolation of the studio remote worker doesn't exist.
This is a wellbeing factor that remote work studies confirm: the main problem with remote isn't productivity, it's social isolation. Coliving solves this problem structurally.
Coworking spaces on the French side
For remote work days when you need an ultra-professional environment (client visit, important presentation, need for absolute quiet), coworking spaces exist in the border area.
In Annemasse, the central Espace Coworking offers day passes (15-25 €) or subscriptions (150-250 €/month). In Archamps, the Technopole offers shared offices in a more corporate setting. In Saint-Julien-en-Genevois, several spaces have opened since 2022.
These spaces are an option for intensive remote work, but for 1 day per week (the recommended maximum), your coliving room desk is more than sufficient and costs nothing extra.
The impact on your transport budget
Remote work 1 day per week reduces your transport budget by 20%. With the LĂ©man Express, it doesn't change much (the pass is unlimited). By car, it's a saving of 80-140 CHF/month (fuel + parking saved on 4 days per month).
But the real gain is elsewhere: remote work allows you to live further from Geneva without the commute being penalizing. Municipalities like Cranves-Sales, VĂ©traz-Monthoux, or Bonne, 10-15 minutes further than Annemasse, are 10-15% cheaper. With 1 day of remote work, the additional commute cost is marginal.
The employer legal framework: what your HR needs to know
If your employer hasn't yet formalized its cross-border remote work policy, here are the key points to discuss with HR.
The remote work agreement should specify the maximum percentage (ideally ≤ 25%). Does Swiss professional accident insurance (LAA) cover remote work from France? In most cases, yes, if formalized. Are work tools (laptop, screen, ergonomic chair) provided for home? Some Swiss companies reimburse a flat rate of 50-100 CHF/month for remote work.
Most large Swiss companies now have a clear framework. SMEs are often behind. If your employer hesitates, the SECO (State Secretariat for Economic Affairs) report on cross-border remote work is a good reference to share.
Our recommendation
Remote work 1 day per week is the sweet spot for cross-border workers: it's legal, practical, and improves quality of life without complications. In coliving, that day is particularly pleasant: you work from your room or common areas, have lunch with other residents present, and enjoy the pool or sauna after work.
Don't push beyond 25% without specialized legal advice. And above all, formalize the agreement with your employer in writing.
Want to try remote work in coliving? Check our houses or apply.
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