Lugano is family friendly: the city has been officially awarded the quality label, promoted by Pro Familia Switzerland, “Family-friendly organization”, for the three-year period 2026–2028, on the basis of the Family Score, a scientific evaluation tool that measures the effectiveness of work-life balance policies within public and private entities.

The result places the municipal administration In line with the Swiss average. With 62 points out of 100, Lugano is close to the national score of 63, meeting the criteria required to obtain the label. This figure, according to the Municipality, confirms the attention paid in recent years to the well-being of its employees.

How the Family Score Works

The Family Score is based on a standardized survey, developed by Pro Familia Switzerland and administered directly to employees. The survey analyzes three main dimensions: the concrete provision of support measures, their effectiveness, and employee perceptions of them.

In the Lugano case, the questionnaire was administered online between September 11 and October 9, 2025. Of the 1,336 employees invited to participate, 562 completed the survey, representing a response rate of 42,06%. Teaching staff, whose working conditions are set at the cantonal level and do not report directly to the city administration, did not participate in the survey.

The outcome paints a complex picture: on the one hand, widespread appreciation for the measures already in place, and on the other, indications of room for improvement, especially in terms of accessibility and communication of available opportunities.

The Municipality's statements

Il Mayor Michele Foletti He expressed satisfaction with the achievement, emphasizing that the recognition demonstrates the City's perception as an employer attentive to the needs of its staff. The result, he noted, also represents an incentive to continue on the path of continuous improvement, so that work can be more effectively reconciled with private and family life.

Also the Director of the Human Resources Division, Ana of the Heras, highlighted the operational value of the tool: the Family Score, he explained, provides an objective basis for planning future actions. The data collected allows for precise identification of areas requiring intervention to better meet staff needs.

Current measures and prospects

In recent years, the Human Resources Division has initiated and consolidated several initiatives aimed at promoting work-life balance. Current and future areas of focus include:

  • strengthening the flexibility of working hours and shifts;

  • the extension of teleworking, partial or complete, where the tasks allow it;

  • supporting parenthood through more flexible leave;

  • the possibility of gradual returns after maternity and paternity leave;

  • childcare support programs;

  • the simplification of bureaucratic procedures for requesting permits;

  • the strengthening of the internal training offer;

  • the development of programs dedicated to prevention and mental well-being.

These measures, combined, aim not only to facilitate families' daily routines but also to strengthen the city's attractiveness as an employer in an increasingly competitive labor market.

A medium-term path

Lugano's recognition is part of a national context where work-life balance has become a strategic indicator for organizational quality. Certification does not represent a definitive end point, but rather an intermediate step: the label is valid for three years and requires ongoing monitoring of the policies adopted.

For period 2026–2028, the declared objective It is to consolidate what has already been achieved and address the issues that emerged from the survey, with particular attention to internal communication and uniform access to the opportunities offered.

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