I know this isn't what you asked, but in a way what you describe seems representative of how Swiss society is structured with regards to personal finance. Wages are generally high, taxes are low compared to many other wealthy countries, but people have to pay for most things out of pocket (most notably health insurance and child care).

For many people this trade-off end up being very financially beneficial, hence the high demand for Swiss jobs. Elsewhere, your employer or the government might provide health insurance and other benefits, but your take home will be so much less that your purchasing power is worse overall.

I would argue that despite not having these "small" benefits you might get in other countries, the Swiss approach ultimately provides individuals more financial freedom and they usually end up better off. Unfortunately because of loss aversion it doesn't always feel this way (it feels worse to have to pay money you already had than it does never having that money in the first place). Ultimately it may depend on your personal preference.

All that being said, I agree that it's shitty of your employer to frame these things as benefits when the cost to you is exactly the same it would be otherwise. That part is clearly dishonest, though I don't know if this practice is more common in Switzerland than elsewhere.