Several state agencies already are offering condensed and flexible work schedules to employees, officials said today during a public hearing at the state Capitol.
Oscar Jackson, administrator of the state Office of Personnel Management, said existing state law and regulations allow agency directors to develop flexible work schedules.
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Jackson, who also serves as secretary of human resources and administration on Gov. Brad Henry’s Cabinet, said the governor’s office wants to make sure any work schedule changes would not interfere with agencies’ abilities to “provide the same level of services five days a week.”
“With that in mind, agencies might want to look at, if they look at a four-day work week, maybe rotational days to ensure full coverage for all the five days of the traditional Monday through Friday week,” Jackson said.
State agencies that would go to 10-hour days likely would be open to the public from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. instead of from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Most state workers now working 10-hour days work in the field, several representatives from state agencies and departments said during the two-hour hearing.
Not all state employees would qualify for the flexible time schedules, said Jeff Gifford, with the Office of Juvenile Affairs, which recently implemented a trial flexible work schedule that went into effect July 1. Not all employees got their first request, he said, as the agency developed several alternatives, including a schedule in which employees work nine-hour days for nine days and then get off every other Friday.
One state employee asked that any flexible time schedules be optional. Parents with children in day care centers would face being charged late fees for picking their children up past 6 p.m.
Rep. Mike Shelton, who presided at today’s hearing, said he would like the governor to issue an executive order encouraging agency directors to develop flexible work schedules. He said he would meet with the governor later this month on the issue.
Paul Sund, a spokesman for Henry, said the governor has already encouraged agency directors to “explore responsible and reasonable flex time policies.” At the governor’s request, Jackson prepared a memo that was recently sent to agency directors, offering them assistance on the flex time, four-day week subject.
Shelton, D-Oklahoma City, said the combination of high fuel prices, inflation and stagnant pay is putting state employees in a financial bind. The state of Utah next month will put more than 17,000 state employees on four-day work schedules for one year.
Reducing from five to four the number of days per week state employees would have to drive to work would save them money, he said. State workers have received only three pay raises in the past 10 years.
The reduced driving also could reduce pollution, he said.
Shelton said the change in work schedules also could save the state money, but John Richard, director of the Central Services Department, said that would occur only if state buildings were shut down one day a week to cut back on utility costs.
Going to a 10-hour day five days a week would increase utility costs for state offices about 15 percent, said Richard, whose agency manages state property.
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April, I have tried it and just because something works for you doesn't mean it will work for everyone. My whole point is that lifestyles are a very personal choice. Some people choose to use daycare, some people stay at home with their children.
When your kids are in school having Friday off won't mean very much, you'll just be at home with no kids, and then with their home work and dinner and other things you won't get any quality time with them at all. And then if your kids play sports and you are the coach you won't be able to go to their games and be there on time. Get the drift? It's a lifestyle choice. And it saves a whopping 8 dollars a week if you don't work on Friday!
Let's not turn into a Fascist society who "requires" everyone to be on the same schedule. If they want to allow it, great, but don't require it. It's not going to work for everyone.
I work for one of the pilot agencies for the program and I have been on flex time for over a year. It is the best thing that could have happened. I do save money, much more than I ever imagined. I do have children in daycare, and I do not have a problem there, and neither do the kids. The love getting an extra day with mom, and I actually get to spend MORE time with them than before because I have a whole extra day with them. I love the extra day off. I feel more energized and excited about work, and I can get more done in the 10 hour day. I do not even notice the exxtra 2 hours. You should try it before you knock it.
This is the most retarted idea anybody has ever come up with. Did anybody ask us as State employees if we really want this? I certainly don't want to work 10 hours a day only to be exhausted on a Friday. Life is about balance and working 10 hours a day affects that balance. That would leave me seeing my kids about 2 hours a day. Not the life I envisioned at all. It would save me about 8 dollars a week not driving in on Friday. Not enough to screw up the time that I have with my family in the evenings. At best this needs to be an optional thing, but the reality of this is that it is another weak, reactionary measure that ultimately will not benefit anybody. There's a very good reason we've worked 8 hour weeks for generations. Because it works! It's downright cruelty to expect children in day care to remain there 11 hours a day. No parent should have to put their children through that.
Duh, this issue was looked into 15 years ago. 4 day work week works for some agencies, not for others. Incredible that all this attention is given by members of the legislature on issue that they only need go back and read about. Do they really think this is a new idea?
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When your kids are in school having Friday off won't mean very much, you'll just be at home with no kids, and then with their home work and dinner and other things you won't get any quality time with them at all. And then if your kids play sports and you are the coach you won't be able to go to their games and be there on time. Get the drift? It's a lifestyle choice. And it saves a whopping 8 dollars a week if you don't work on Friday!
Let's not turn into a Fascist society who "requires" everyone to be on the same schedule. If they want to allow it, great, but don't require it. It's not going to work for everyone.