An Italian town is utilizing volunteer retirees to monitor public works.

Eight retirees, all with technical backgrounds, will observe and report on everything from public construction projects to the condition of parks and roads.

In southern Europe, one of the favorite pastimes of many retired men is patiently watching construction sites with their hands behind their backs and often commenting on the quality of the work. Now, the town of Villasanta in Italy has decided to take advantage of their interest and expertise. The town, with a population of about 14,000 located near Monza in the northeastern region of Lombardy, has assigned eight 'umarells', a term of endearment meaning "little man" in Emilian dialect, to observe and report on all public works in their community. The initiative, launched by Mayor Lorenzo Galli, aims to address the town's need for additional oversight in various areas, including construction sites, the condition of streets and sidewalks, and the maintenance of green spaces. The eight were selected after a public call. To be officially chosen as a 'umarell' in Villasanta, candidates had to demonstrate that they were retired, university graduates, and had experience in technical fields. They are now registered as civilian volunteers, which also provides them with insurance coverage. According to local media reports, the first task of these individuals, according to the Villasanta Municipality, will be to "conduct surveys that will be useful for reviewing the new urban traffic plan in the coming months." The town also plans to hire more support staff, and the call is still open. Despite some cynical approaches, most Italians warmly welcome 'umarells'. In 2017, the city of Bologna named one of its squares "Piazetta degli Umarells" in honor of them, and a calendar featuring photos of umarells has become a popular souvenir in northern Italy. Recently, real estate experts have started placing transparent glass panels on construction site fences to allow men to continue their hobbies. In January, a digital production laboratory in Milan designed and produced a small statue called 'desktop umarell', which can observe you while you work, jokingly claiming that having one could "increase productivity by 10%." This phenomenon is gradually beginning to gain international recognition. The Swedish Language Council included 'umarell' in its list of newly accepted words in 2024.