Photo credit: summerland.ca/
SUMMERLAND – The District of Summerland will continue compressing full-time hours into a four-day work week for Municipal Hall and Aquatic Centre staff following an 18-month trial.
Extended public service hours from Tuesday to Friday will also continue. At its October 15 regular meeting, Council endorsed staff recommendations to continue the compressed four-day work week in its current format and to consider extending the option to employees in other departments on a case-by-case basis, depending on customer service requirements, operational needs, and cost.
In July 2023, Municipal Hall office hours changed from Monday to Friday 8:30 am – 4:00 pm to Tuesday to Friday 8:15 am – 5:00 pm (closed Mondays). Public visits to Municipal Hall before 8:30 am and after 4:00 pm have consistently increased since the start of the trial and the feedback regarding the extended hours has been positive.
Although some Municipal Hall employees remain on a five-day schedule, including building inspectors and Corporate Services staff, the majority work a four-day week. Staff retention is the key goal of the program and, following a check-in with staff, the majority of Municipal Hall and the Aquatic Centre employees have expressed satisfaction with the four-day week. The schedule also supports the recruitment of new staff when vacancies occur.
Unlike other four-day work week programs, the District of Summerland model requires the same number of hours worked over the course of a year; there is no reduction in the overall amount of time worked. Nor has the total compensation for employees participating in the program changed.
“To provide good service we need good staff, and it’s with both service and staff in mind that we are formalizing the four-day compressed work week. While counter services are closed on Mondays, the convenience of extended hours on Tuesday through Friday has proved popular with the public. Working longer hours over a shorter week also provides a positive work environment by giving employees a better work-life balance,” noted Doug Holmes, Mayor of the District of Summerland.
District of Summerland