Promoting work-life balance is a cornerstone of Swissgrid’s HR strategy. Changing needs are taken into account, and solutions are generally made available to all employees. These can include hybrid working or alternative working models such as job sharing and part-time work. Swissgrid also offers support and care services for children and family members with external partners such as Profawo. Swissgrid employees also have the opportunity to take sabbaticals.

Parental leave is granted in accordance with the statutory provisions (14 weeks) and, in the case of paternity leave, an extra week on top of the statutory two weeks. The adoption of a child under the age of five is treated in the same way as a birth in terms of parental leave. These provisions apply irrespective of the employment relationship (i.e. full-time or part-time work, temporary or permanent contract). In 2023, four female employees and 20 male employees became parents at Swissgrid. All employees resumed their roles at the end of their parental leave. The retention rate of employees 12 months after resuming work was also 100% in 2023.

Equal pay for work of equal value is a matter of course for Swissgrid. Swissgrid has created transparency in this regard with the introduction of role-based salary bands in 2019. In 2023, the Swiss Association for Quality and Management Systems (SQS) once again audited wages at Swissgrid. SQS confirmed in this maintenance audit that Swissgrid continues to provide pay equity between women and men. With a deviation rate of 3.5% (2021: 3.8%), the result of the audit remains below the threshold of 5%. The remuneration of all employees was audited, with the exception of interns and employees paid by the hour. Swissgrid can therefore continue to use the SQS «Fair Compensation» certificate in accordance with the criteria of the Association of Compensation & Benefits Experts without any restrictions.

Swissgrid protects the personal integrity of its employees via suitable internal and external points of contact. In the event of breaches of personal integrity, employees can contact an external reporting centre, their line manager, an internal contact person from the HR department, a staff representative or the investigative body, the Compliance function. Swissgrid employees can obtain free expert assistance with personal and business difficulties from the consultancy firm Movis. Counselling is available to employees seven days a week, 24 hours a day in all parts of the country and is treated confidentially. Whistleblowers who report serious compliance violations are protected by Swissgrid’s Whistleblowing Policy. This aims to encourage the reporting of misconduct and defines the confidentiality of reports and the protection of whistleblowers.

As part of its Strategy 2027, Swissgrid is strengthening eight cultural dimensions, including feedback, trust and learning. One of these dimensions is inclusive leadership. This means that managers take into account the diversity of their employees and their needs, ensure equal opportunities and create the necessary framework conditions. Leaders promote a climate of respect, trust and (psychological) security in which all employees can contribute their knowledge and experience and develop their full potential. Inclusive leadership is part of Swissgrid’s corporate culture and the aim is to anchor even more firmly throughout the company. Inclusive management at Swissgrid is based on the guiding and management principles, which define aspects such as communication, a sense of responsibility and the actions of managers. In order to establish these principles even more firmly within the company, managers receive targeted training on various aspects of inclusive leadership. At the 2023 management meeting, awareness was raised about dealing with «unconscious bias», and moderated discussions were held to promote an open feedback culture.

Women@swissgrid is an initiative by female employees for networking, inspiring each other and learning from each other. The committee organises annual lectures and workshops on topics such as negotiation coaching.