Sébastien Perriard, a 54-year-old Swisscom technician with 38 years of service, was fired per the end of August after helping an 83-year-old neighbor resolve unwanted mobile subscriptions at a retail shop in Bulle. The dispute over his tone during the visit led to legal action, with a court hearing set for November 3.
A routine favor for an elderly neighbor has cost a veteran telecommunications worker his career. Sébastien Perriard spent 38 years at Swisscom, starting at age 16 and logging 38 years without a single warning, reprimand, or other disciplinary measure on his record. That streak came to an end when the company terminated his employment per the end of August following a confrontation at a retail branch in the western Swiss town of Bulle FR.
The dispute centers on a visit Perriard made alongside his partner and their 83-year-old neighbor in late January. The senior resident had purchased an iPhone 15 alongside accessories and mobile subscriptions totaling 600 francs during a previous trip to the shop in November 2025. Realizing she neither needed nor understood the recurring service plans or the postal deliveries that followed, she asked Perriard to accompany her back to the store to untangle the contracts.
Disputed Conduct Inside the Retail Shop
What happened inside the Bulle branch remains heavily contested by the parties involved. The manager eventually provided a telephone number, through which the subscription issue was successfully resolved a few days later.
However, the manager filed an internal report alleging that Perriard adopted a biting tone during the encounter. Two staff members supported the manager’s version of events. Perriard, backed by the testimony of both his partner and the elderly neighbor, strongly denies that any verbal escalation occurred.
Swisscom formally issued the termination letter on March 9, citing Perriard’s alleged behavior toward the shop manager on January 29 as the ground for dismissal.
Legal Battle and Union Intervention
The abrupt end to a 38-year career has drawn the backing of the Syndicom trade union. Initially, the union demanded Perriard’s reinstatement. With that option off the table, the legal representation has shifted toward seeking six months’ salary in compensation for what they argue is a wrongful termination.
Perriard took his case directly to the highest levels of the corporation in August, writing a personal appeal to Swisscom CEO Christoph Aeschlimann to request a review of the decision. The corporate human resources department replied in early September, stating that the matter was now in the hands of the legal system and that the company would let the judicial process run its course.
Because the dispute involves active litigation, Swisscom has declined to comment publicly on the specific details of the case. The matter now rests with the Saane district labor court, where a formal hearing is scheduled for November 3.
Broader Discontent Over Long-Term Terminations
Parallels have been drawn to another labor dispute from the region: the dismissal of Jean-Daniel Taverney, a veteran postal worker in Fribourg who lost his job after decades of service for prioritizing customer requests over strict delivery protocols, such as carrying parcels to upper floors.
For Perriard, the penalty feels entirely disproportionate to the incident that triggered it.