Policy No. 90 — Expanded Service Hours and Compressed Work Week Policy
Barrington, Nova Scotia
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Policy No. 90 Expanded Service Hours and Compressed Work Week Policy
POLICY NO. 90
EXPANDED SERVICE HOURS AND COMPRESSED WORK WEEK POLICY
1.0
PURPOSE
1.1
The purpose of the policy is to outline the expansion of service hours and the
terms and conditions for the implementation of a compressed (4-day) work week
arrangement.
2.0
OBJECTIVES
2.1
The Municipality desires to provide the best possible service to its residents and
aims to create a happy, healthy, and productive workplace. The objectives of this
policy is to expand service hours, increasing residents' ability to access the
municipal administrative centre and municipal services and help maintain high
levels of employee satisfaction and commitment, provide greater work-life
balance, maintain a productive workplace and improve the attractiveness of the
Municipality as an employer.
3.0
EXPANDED SERVICE HOURS
3.1
The Municipal Administration Centre hours of operation will be expanded
effective July 4, 2022, to 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., inclusive, Monday to Friday.
3.2
The Service hours of other facilities could also be expanded depending on its
staff complement and operational requirements.
4.0
COMPRESSED WORK WEEK
4.1
Workplaces
4.1.1 The Municipality has several operational departments and workplaces.
Directors considering implementing a compressed work week
arrangement may do so subject to the eligibility and operational
requirements of this Policy, and approval of the CAO.
4.1.2 Alternative forms of work arrangements may be considered for municipal
workplaces where a compressed work week arrangement is not practical
to implement.
4.2
Eligibility
4.2.1 This policy applies to all full-time, permanent employees of the
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Policy No. 90 Expanded Service Hours and Compressed Work Week Policy
Municipality, which have passed their probationary period and have had
good past performance appraisals demonstrating their ability to meet job
expectations.
4.2.2 Employees must be able to work independently without constant
supervision from their Director and must have strong self-discipline and
good time management skills.
4.3
Operational Requirements
4.3.1 Operational requirements of each department must be met. Where an
employee is working a compressed work week, their workplace shall be
open to the public for all scheduled work hours.
4.3.2 Service to the customer must be maintained or improved. Some services
are provided by a single individual. Under a compressed work week,
those services must still be available the same number of hours per
week. However, those hours will be compressed into 4 days.
4.3.3 Some services may not be available during extended hours, (before 8:30
a.m. and after 4:30 p.m.) if the individuals providing those services are
not participating in the compressed work week.
4.3.4 Costs to the Municipality must not be increased.
4.4
Shifts
4.4.1 In a workplace implementing a compressed work week, participating
employees will work under a two-shift system with employees divided
into "Team A" and "Team B".
4.4.2 Commencing July 4, 2022, "Team A" employees will work on a shift
from Monday to Thursday and "Team B" employees will work on a shift
from Tuesday to Friday. To ensure that all operational requirements are
met, the two teams will generally consist of the following positions. In
some circumstances, an alteration to this division will be required and
will be at the discretion of the CAO.
TEAM A
TEAM B
CAO
Director of Finance
Municipal Clerk
Accounts Payable Clerk
Executive Assistant
Tax Clerk
Director of Recreation
Active Living Coordinator
Director of Property Services
Treatment Plant Operator
Building Inspector
Building Inspection Administrative
Support
Property Services Technician A
Property Services Technician B
Fire Services and EMO Coordinator
Director of Marketing and Tourism
Development
Senior Services Administrative
Support
Senior Services Coordinator
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Policy No. 90 Expanded Service Hours and Compressed Work Week Policy
4.4.3 These shifts will switch between the teams every four (4) months.
4.4.4 Each employee will be required to work the number of hours per day as
outlined in their employee contract in addition to a minimum of one-half
hour unpaid lunch break. The span of hours will be at the discretion of
each Director based on each employee's duties and the department's
operational requirements. For example, if an employee is contracted to
work 35 hours per week, the employee will be required to work 8.75
hours per day in addition to a minimum of one-half hour unpaid lunch
break for a total of 9.25 hours per day.
4.4.5 Other than for a significant reason determined by the CAO, no swapping
or shift changes are permitted between the teams at any time.
4.4.6 Employees joining on any other date will be assigned to a team by their
Director, and subject to standard shift change dates.
4.5
Application and Approval
4.5.1 Employees can apply for the arrangement using the Compressed Work
Week Arrangement Application Form (Appendix A).
4.5.2 The application of the compressed work week arrangement must be
submitted to an employee's Director for consideration.
4.5.3 Directors will review applications and consider the operational impacts of
approving a compressed work week arrangement.
4.5.4 The approval of the compressed work week application will be done by
the Director, in consultation with the CAO.
4.5.5 Directors are encouraged to approve employees' requests for
compressed work week arrangements whenever it is possible to do so
without compromising the organization's service levels.
4.5.6 If a compressed work week arrangement application is approved, the
employee and the Director shall determine the start date and the
Director shall then assign the employee to the most appropriate team.
5.0
HOLIDAYS
5.1
Employees will still be entitled to all regular paid holidays. If a holiday falls on a
regular day of rest (i.e., Monday) the employee shall take Tuesday off with pay. If
a holiday falls on a regular day of rest (i.e., Friday) the employee shall take
Thursday off with pay.
5.2
For holidays that fall on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday, the day off shall be
that day.
6.0
OVERTIME, VACATION AND SICK LEAVE
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Policy No. 90 Expanded Service Hours and Compressed Work Week Policy
6.1
Employees who are called in to work on their regular day of rest will be entitled
to time in lieu that can be taken on either a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday.
6.2
Sick leave and vacation will be applied on a per hour basis versus a per day basis.
6.3
Employees must have their vacation and/or use of overtime or time in lieu
approved by their Director to ensure that shifts are always appropriately
covered.
7.0
GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS
7.1
Compressed work week arrangements will not diminish the ability of the
Municipality to assign responsibility and accountability to individual employees
for the provision of services and performance of their duties.
7.2
Compressed work week arrangements are a privilege and may be discontinued
at any time by the Director or CAO. A compressed work week arrangement may
also be discontinued upon request of an employee.
7.3
Directors and the CAO reserve the right to immediately suspend the
arrangement in case of unanticipated circumstances regarding employee
performance or operational needs.
7.4
Compressed work week employees' salary, compensation and benefits do not
differ from standard full-time employees.
7.5
Banking or combining lunch breaks and/or breaks will not be permitted.
7.6
Agreements shall be reviewed and reconsidered during each employee's annual
performance appraisal.
7.7
Modifications and/or renewals shall be documented appropriately. The original
shall be maintained in the employee's personnel file with copies to the
employee and Director.
7.8
The employee shall work the hours agreed upon and obtain approval from the
Director in advance of working any overtime.
7.9
The Director shall maintain open communication, ensure that the employee's
hours of work do not fall below the normal work week hours and discuss with
the employee any concerns as they arise.
7.10
A compressed work week arrangement does not change the employment
contract.
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Policy No. 90 Expanded Service Hours and Compressed Work Week Policy
APPENDIX A
COMPRESSED WORK WEEK ARRANGEMENT
APPLICATION FORM
This form is to be used for the purposes of requesting, reviewing, and modifying compressed work week
arrangements.
Employee Name:
Department:
Job Title:
Email Address:
Name:
Job Title:
Email:
I acknowledge that I have read, in its entirety, the Expanded Service Hours and Compressed Work Week Policy
and will abide by its terms and conditions.
I understand that the approval of a compressed work week arrangement does not amend my employment
contract.
I understand that compressed work week arrangements are a privilege and may be discontinued at any time by
my Director or CAO.
I understand that my Director and the CAO have the right to immediately suspend the arrangement in case of
unanticipated circumstances regarding employee performance or operational needs.
Date:
Employee Signature:
Director Signature:
For Office Use Only
Compressed work week arrangement is
Approved
Rejected
If approved, employee start date will be:
on Team A or B
If rejected, the reason is:
Employee Information
Director Information
Acknowledgement and Authorization
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Policy No. 90 Expanded Service Hours and Compressed Work Week Policy
Clerk's Annotation for Official Policy Book
Date of Notice to Council members of Intent to Consider
April 11, 2022
Date of Passage of Adoption
April 25, 2022
I certify that Policy 90 "Expanded Service Hours and Compressed Work Week
Policy" was adopted by Council on the dates as indicated above.
___________________________________ _________________________
Lesa Rossetti Date
Municipal Clerk
VERSION LOG
Version
Number
Amendment Description
Approved By
Approval Date
1
Policy Approved by Council
Council
April 25, 2022