Burnout, Breakthrough and Independence – Interview with Nada Lanz

Nada Lanz, 43, was born in Albania, grew up in Rome and moved to Switzerland 15 years ago. After going through a difficult divorce and struggling with legal and financial burdens as a single mother, she built a new life for herself with the support of loyal employers who believed in her. Today she works independently with resilience, creativity, and determination.

How long have you been living in Switzerland?

I have been living in Switzerland for about 15 years. Even before I moved here permanently, I used to come often, starting from when I was 17 until I was 24. It always felt like home to me.

How did you become a domestic worker?

That was not planned at first. I was in the middle of a court case over my divorce and had to find a job immediately. They tried to plan my whole life for me. And I said, “No. Nobody plans my life. I do that myself.”
But I still had to find work as soon as possible, otherwise I could have lost everything – even my son. Within just 12 hours, I found a job at Batmaid. At first, it wasn’t about the money. I just didn’t want to be separated from my son. That’s how it all started.

How did you get to know quitt?

One of my former employers at Batmaid is a police officer in Zurich. He and his partner knew how difficult my situation was: no holidays, no pay for sick leave, constant stress. I had a burnout because of all the pressure. So he asked around at the police station and that’s where he heard about quitt for the first time.
I had never heard of it, but he recommended it to me. He and his partner helped me with the registration. Thanks to them, I was able to work independently and legally. I told my other employers and they all agreed to continue with quitt. It really changed my life.

How many employers or clients do you currently work for?

At the moment I work for about 9 employers. In April I had 10, but one of them didn’t want to bill over quit anymore and hire me under the table. I immediately declined. I told him clearly that I wasn’t risking anything. I want to live correctly. I have a B permit, and even small violations can have big consequences for me.

What is your relationship with your employers?

Most of them originally came from Batmaid, except for two. When I told them that I was leaving the agency, I explained that I wanted to work independently. I never expected them to follow me, but they did. Out of trust and support. That meant so much to me. Especially the policeman and his partner took great care of me.
However, an employer is problematic, he simply does not pay. I only go to him once a month, sometimes twice, and yet he doesn’t pay. This is unacceptable. Other employers, on the other hand, are great, they book me in advance and pay on time. The wages are different, but I accepted that. I don’t want drama – I just want it to be fair.

What does a typical working day look like for you?

Every time I go to work, I have a big smile on my face. I am happy. I’ve always been, even in difficult times. Now even more because I like to be busy. And I’m more flexible now, I don’t have to wait three hours between appointments like I used to. Especially with a child, this is extremely important. So you can coordinate your own time well with your employers.

What do you enjoy the most of your work?

I love transforming spaces. It’s not just about cleaning, it’s also about creativity. I’m always looking for better, smarter ways to get things done. I take the initiative myself, suggest improvements, optimize processes. I’m just happy when the employers are satisfied in the end.

What do you like to do after work?

I go home, have a coffee and relax. My best friend works when I’m off, and she’s in Zurich while I’m in Uster. I don’t mind. I wait all week to see my son, who is going to a boarding school. My evenings are quiet, and my weekends are all his.

What are your plans for the future?

I have many projects. My father is a sculptor who also worked for the government and had a shop near St. Peter’s Square in Rome. I grew up with him, my brother and my sister in the workshop and often helped there.
One day I would like to open my own small shop, perhaps selling handmade works of art, such as small sculptures of important Albanian national heroes. Many people from Albania live here in Switzerland, and they would certainly be proud to see their cultural heritage visibly represented.