Employment in Financial Services

In addition to an employment contract, there are additional documentation requirements in connection with the application or transfer of the employee’s licence with the financial regulators.

No special contractual documents are required when engaging employees within the financial services industry.

However, it is generally recommended to conclude a written employment contract with each employee. FINMA, for instance, requires a copy of employment contracts concluded with senior management of regulated entities.
In particular, the employment contract should reference the employer’s (regulatory) set of directions and the employee’s obligation to comply with said instructions. In addition, because regulated companies such as banks, securities firms, fund management companies, managers of collective assets or asset managers are required to obtain authorisation from FINMA before the engagement of key personnel, it may be sensible to include a condition precedent relating to FINMA’s acceptance of the relevant employee in the employment contract.

The mandatory, partially mandatory, and optional elements of an individual employment contract are outlined in article 319 et seq of the CO (in particular regarding remuneration, working time, vacation, and incapacity for work). Further regulations may apply based on collective bargaining agreements.

SFC

Under the SFO, licensed representatives and ROs are required to be “a fit and proper person” to carry on the regulated activities and must adhere to the standards of behaviour set out in the “Code of Conduct for Persons Licensed by or Registered with the Securities and Futures Commission”. Other relevant guidelines regarding standards of behaviour include:

• “Fit and Proper Guidelines”, which set out the general expectations of the SFC of what is necessary to satisfy the licensing or registration requirements that a person is fit and proper.
• “Guidelines on Competence”, which set out the competence requirements and its objective to ensure a person is equipped with the necessary technical skills and professional expertise to be “fit”, and is aware of the relevant ethical standards and regulatory knowledge to be “proper” in carrying on any regulated activities.

HKMA

Under the BO, employees of an authorised institution that carry on regulated activities under the SFO are required to be fit and proper. In addition, the HKMA needs to be satisfied that the chief executive, directors, controllers and executive officers of the authorised institutions are fit and proper. Other relevant guidelines regarding standards of behaviour include:

• “Code of Banking Practice”, which is to be observed by authorised institutions in dealing with and providing services to their customers.
• Supervisory Policy Manual CG – 2 “Systems of Control for Appointment of Managers”, which sets out the system of control that authorised institutions should have for ensuring the fitness and propriety of individuals appointed as managers.

IA

The conduct requirements for licensed insurance agents and brokers are set out in Division 4 of the IO. Other relevant codes and guidelines include:

• “Code of Conduct for Licensed Insurance Agents”, which sets out the fundamental principles of professional conduct that buyers of insurance are entitled to expect in their dealings with licensed insurance agents.
• “Code of Conduct for Licensed Insurance Brokers”, which sets out the fundamental principles of professional conduct that buyers of insurance are entitled to expect in their dealings with licensed insurance brokers.
• “Guideline on ‘Fit and Proper’ Criteria under the Insurance Ordinance”

Depending on the regulatory status of the employing entity and, as the case may be, on the exact activities of a financial service employee, a financial service employee needs to adhere to certain code of conduct rules (eg, regarding transparency and care, documentation and accountability).

Supervised companies in Switzerland are, in principle, required to set up an organisation that ensures the compliance with Swiss financial market laws and its statutory code of conduct rules. For this purpose, among others, companies are required to issue regulations that their employees must follow.

Under Swiss financial market laws, code of conduct rules are generally based on abstract statutory rules and concretized by recognised privately organised associations.

In particular, several professional organisations (eg, the Swiss Bankers Association or the Asset Management Association) and self-regulated organisations issue their own set of code of conduct rules that members are required to follow.