HomeMy WebLinkAboutSOG 104.01 Flex Schedule 2-2009104.01 - Flex Schedule Administration
Effective: 2/5/2009
Revised:
Replaces:
I. Guiding Philosophx
The skills set and abilities necessary to be a successful Staff Officer are in many ways
different than that of a Line Officer. The investment in time, resources, and training to mold a
competent and capable Staff Officer is large. Since the Staff Officer's level of capability and
contribution is directly related to long-term organizational success, we seek to provide the means
of retaining key Staff Officers whose capabilities and contributions are proven.
II. Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to communicate the considerations and limits involved in
the administration of the flex schedule privilege.
III. Goals
The goals of this policy are to:
A. communicate the advantages of the flex schedule privilege.
B. define the requirements of administering the flex schedule privilege.
C. indicate the grounds for revocation of the flex schedule privilege.
IV. Definitions
A. Flex Schedule — schedule option privilege for civil service personnel assigned to
Non -Operations Divisions. The base configuration is a ten-hour workday that is
flexed or adjusted based on the relative needs of the individual, division, and
department, as defined in this guideline.
V. Advantages of the Flex Schedule
A. When administered effectively, the flex schedule may offer the following
advantages to the individual and the Department:
1. Provides extended regular business hours without the generation of
overtime. Regular business hours will increase from the current 40 hours
per week to 50-55 hours per week upon implementation.
2. Increases customer satisfaction due to extended hours availability.
3. Increases in productivity measures across the board, depending on the
specific measure considered.
4. Decreases in position -specific initial training and certification costs due to
improved Staff Officer retention.
5. Decreases in comparative overtime costs related to routine duties and/or
special assignments.
6. Reductions in fuel usage for the division, and a potential fuel cost savings
to the individual due to the shortened work week.
7. Earlier report to work time allows for timely communications with the off -
going shift in the Operations Division concerning incidents occurring
overnight and/or projects. This should positively affect coordination of
problem reporting and solving, and timeliness of joint project completion
efforts over time.
8. Reductions in Staff Officer burnout.
9. Positive impact on morale in each of the affected Divisions.
VI. Administration of the Flex Schedule Privilege
A. The Communications and Operations Division's schedules are benefits set by
contract. Upon implementation, civil service personnel in the remaining divisions of
fire department and the Assistant Fire Chief will be provided the privilege of working
a flex schedule, with the four ten-hour days/week schedule as the primary base
configuration, subject to the following provisions:
1. The schedule option privilege will initially be rolled out as a 90 -day pilot
program, subject to potential continuation based on evaluation of its actual
practicality and merits over the course of the pilot period.
2. Regular working hours on the ten-hour schedule will be 7:00 a.m. until
6:00 p.m. with a one-hour lunch break. If personnel are unable to take a
lunch break, their schedule may flex back to 5:00 p.m. to compensate.
3. The regular working hours described above will constitute the division's
regular business hours and the division will remain open for service
Monday through Friday during this period.
4. A supervisor who is up-to-date and able to answer customer questions
regarding the division's overall operations (all Program areas) will be
available without the generation of overtime during regular business
hours.
5. In an effort to maintain efficiency and overall effectiveness, personnel are
aware that their assigned days off and/or regular working hours are subject
to adjustment according to the service demands of the division and/or
Department. Effort will be made by the Division Chief and/or Program
Manager to provide sufficient notice when adjustment of an individual's
"routine" schedule (hours or days off) is necessary.
6. This schedule is an option only. It is a privilege and not a benefit.
Individuals may opt to remain on the traditional eight-hour schedule, and
may revert back to it at any time.
7. All schedules and actual hours worked will be accurately documented in
both the Firehouse Scheduling Module and HTE payroll software.
8. This policy affects only persons permanently assigned to the
Administration & Support Services, Certification & Training, and
Community Risk Reduction Divisions and the Assistant Fire Chief.
Civilian staff will not be provided the schedule privilege at this time.
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Operations Division personnel on light duty or special assignment will be
assigned a schedule according to the light duty or project assignment
needs and supervision requirements at the discretion of the Fire Chief.
9. The Division Chief will provide and maintain an updated listing of the
routine schedule assigned for all persons in his/her division to the Fire
Chief.
VII. Revocation of the Flex Schedule Privilege
A. Personnel are aware that if individuals, or the Division as a team, can not maintain the
provisions listed above, or should productivity, efficiency, effectiveness or service
availability deteriorate in any way, then the schedule option privilege may be
revoked.
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