A Secure Future

Pension funds have been mandatory in Switzerland only since January 1, 1985. Previously, company owners were responsible for running the company pension scheme for their workforce. Martin H. Burckhardt was very keen to make his employees far-sighted offers to guarantee them a decent standard of living after retiring from the company. Burckhardt set up a foundation back in 1959, to offer all employees and their families a comprehensive pension scheme for old age, disability, and death, in addition to the statutory company social insurance.

From July 1, 1975, the «Burckhardt+Partner Pension Foundation» also offered employees the opportunity to close the gaps between state and company pension schemes by allowing them to pay 10% of their salary into an earmarked retirement account at Basler Kantonalbank. With this, the company set the course for a strong retirement provision master plan. 

Only a few years later, this led to the creation of the Brunelleschi Foundation, which Burckhardt launched at the end of 1980 and which still exists today. Its name is borrowed from the Renaissance architect Filippo Brunelleschi, whose works are considered milestones in architecture. Its purpose is to insure staff, their families, and surviving dependents against financial risks such as illness, accident, disability, unemployment, and emergencies through no fault of their own. Given the recent oil price crises in particular, the workforce has been grateful to be able to look forward to a secure social future with the Brunelleschi Foundation.