I am not sure that it makes sense to have some CCBOE offices only open four days a week and schools operational five days. Time will tell on this one.
To reduce costs, Columbia County officials recently adopted a pilot program to reduce the days some employees work.
Many of the county's division directors instituted the "flexible work week pilot program" last week. Officials hope the flex scheduling produces a savings in utilities and gasoline.
"It's meant to ultimately save energy by closing down some offices one day a week and save fuel costs by reducing the number of cars we have on the road on a particular day," said Scott Johnson, the county's assistant administrator.
Division directors have been tasked with tracking identifiable savings and customer service, Mr. Johnson said. At the end of the year, county commissioners will review the program's results and decide whether it should continue.
Division directors were allowed to establish work hours for their employees.
Some divisions chose 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Others will remain open each working day but allow employees to take off different days during the week.
Columbia County Finance Division Director Leanne DeLoach opted for a four-day work week for her department. However, she gave her employees the option of starting the work day at either 7, 7:30 or 8 a.m.
Ms. DeLoach said she has noticed improved morale, which she attributes to the three-day weekends. Also, the longer work days have increased productivity, she said.
"For me, personally, I can be more productive by being here longer during the day," she said. "There's a little more quiet time between 7 and 8 where you get a little more done because the phone is not ringing."
Though some offices might be closed during the week, Mr. Johnson said someone will always be on call. In fact, officials have insisted that employees maintain the same level of service, he said.
Reach Donnie Fetter at (706) 868-1222, ext. 115, or donnie.fetter@augustachronicle.com.
NEW SCHEDULES
As part of a flexible work scheduling pilot program, some Columbia County departments will be closed on Fridays but remain open longer hours Monday through Thursday. Those departments include Finance, GIS/Maps, Human Resources, Maintenance, Procurement, Property Acquisition, Risk Management and Roads and Bridges.
Comments
I am not sure that it makes sense to have some CCBOE offices only open four days a week and schools operational five days. Time will tell on this one.
It is not CCBOE, it's Columbia County Government. Read the article.
Some places "I will not mention where" have already started this program.
From the Git-Go, employees are cheating.
Come in late.. Take an extended lunch break.. and go home early..
Absolutely no work ethics what-so-ever.
County employees should work Mon-Fri since most county agencies work that way and conduct business with each other during those hours. In most government offices being there so they can respond to requests from other county offices is 75% of the work. So they work two extra hours a day, that means they get another long break where you had better not bother them. I'm a little cynical when it comes to government workers having three day weekends every week at the expense of decreasing responsiveness to the public and other parts of government working 5 day weeks.
What a wonderful idea!
Any economic benefits achievable from this plan are at best doubtful. Basic economics show that the variable expenses hoping to be gained by this plan are dwarfed by the fixed expenses of land, buildings, fixtures, salaries, etc. Virtually certain is this plan will lower productivity and reduce the time services are availalbe to the public. Not smart but what government entity woudn't chose this option?
In all these programs, there is a concentrated effort for no reduction of services. My wife is a RC employee and her court is moving to a 4 day schedule. There will always be personnel on duty, even on a Friday, to help the public. These are innovative programs that show local government is trying to be more fiscally responsible and should be encouraged by anyone who pays taxes.
Folks remember you are proving that your office doesn't need the workforce it has. That could result in someone going in an downsizing. Think about it, your facility is only open 4 days a week, and you are doing the job of servicing the customer between a set of 8 core hours. Now it I have 5 people working 40 hours a week that is 200 hours effort total. but you are proving that 5 people working 4 days (core times) can do the same service. 5X4X8=160 and that = 4 employees could service the public. Think about it
So how long of a break do they take at the end of the 8 hours, before they start to work the "extra two hours?" It is not only serving the public on Fridays it is providing services to other departments that work 5 day weeks. This will decrease the overall efficiency of the entire county government.
Tail2, how does having court 10 hours a day 4 days a week save money? The building and lights are still there. The people get paid the same. What if they were on a 5 day schedule and decided to work late one day to catch up on the caseload? Can't do that now.
Hey disssman... the 4 day week constitutes the employee's pulling 10 hour shifts.. it's still a 40 hour work week..
Dissman - Check your math. The work hours are 10 hours a day, four days a week. I can actually see a possible benefit from having two "quiet" hours a day, with which to clear out things without the normal interruptions. As someone mentioned above about lack of coverage, remember that in Columbia County, we have the 311 system to answer questions. I was on 4/10s back in 1974 at an electronics manufacturing office in Atlanta. Productivity did not suffer, and the workforce loved it. Guess we were ahead of the times. And gas was only 53 cents a gallon.
Another point, they say they will keep the offices open on Fridays to serve the public. Therefore you are not saving on electricity. You are actually increasing the useage.
Have any of you tried to get something done at the Marble Palace on a Friday? May as well let them stay home. Someone will always be there to issue marriage licenses and answer stupid questions about the new gun law. I heartily endorse the four day work week. I've established the same in my own business. Lose no income, reduce operating expenses, and get more time with my family.
What they are describing IS NOT a 'flexible work schedule,' it is a 'compressed work schedule.'
While they're in the process of thinking up a work schedule, how about doing the four-day work-week from Wednesday to Saturday so that people who work Mon-Fri in the private sector can do government business on Saturday?
sick of taxes: Are you talking about Fort Gordon?
ripjones: Of course "the workforce loved it." Look at the 7:21 AM post by 'sick of taxes'
I agree - the only people it benefits are the employees.
No one has mentioned the other benefit of a 4-10 work week.. less traffic on the way home 2hurs. later than most others!
If you go to 4 day work weeks to save gas by not going to work on Friday, who is going to stay home all day? Nobody.
No_Longer_Amazed - "sick of taxes" needs to say who he is talking about, not use the line "I will not mention where". Unless he's willing to name names, don't try to contradict what I said. Unless something physically broke, I have the capacity right now, to do my support work from my computer at home. And yes, I would be working, and yes, I would be staying home working that day. We have employees right now that work from home, unless they are having network problems. If they have problems for over an hour, they get their behinds here.
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