Palatka adopts comp-time, flexible schedules and remote-work policies for city employees

The Palatka City Commission on Feb. 13 adopted three interrelated personnel policies: a comp-time policy for exempt employees, a flex/ compressed-workweek policy, and a remote-work policy for positions with the capacity to work remotely.

Staff presented the policies as tools to support recruitment, retention and employee wellbeing while requiring supervisors to ensure department production and coverage. The comp-time policy gives exempt employees the ability to accrue compensatory time for work reasonably beyond standard hours rather than being paid overtime (exempt employees are not eligible for overtime pay). The flex policy offers three optional formats (for example, four 10‑hour days or alternating Fridays off) but requires supervisor approval, a written flex-work agreement and a trial assessment period. The remote-work policy allows eligible employees to work off-site with supervisory authorization and a signed agreement.

Commissioners asked whether unionized departments (police and fire) would be affected; staff said unions were notified during department-head review and that any changes affecting pay or bargained terms would be handled through collective-bargaining processes where required. The commission approved the policies by motion and second; the meeting record shows the vote as 'all in favor.'

Human Resources will distribute the written agreements and supervisors will re-evaluate approved arrangements, with the authority to cancel an arrangement if departmental performance or coverage suffers.