Proposal to restore 4‑day, 10‑hour workweek for Road & Bridge and Facilities fails 2–3

A motion to restore a 4‑day, 10‑hour schedule for the Road & Bridge and Facilities departments on a six‑month trial failed by a 2–3 vote at the Hardee County Board of County Commissioners meeting.

Commissioner Wells moved to return Road & Bridge and Facilities to a rotating 4‑10 schedule for six months; Commissioner Chancy seconded. Supporters argued a 4‑10 schedule increases operational flexibility and employee work‑life balance, reduces midweek interruptions and was historically used in the county for about 17–18 years before being changed. Several public commenters and board members said past trials produced cost savings and improved productivity in some stretches.

Opponents cited the county’s payroll analysis showing an increase in overtime costs under the 4‑10 schedule (staff presented a figure of approximately a $70,000 increase in overtime for the compared period) and warned that emergency and permit work, storm response and service-level expectations would suffer if more staff were off on Mondays or Fridays. Commissioners also debated the data set used for comparison; some said hurricane response and comp‑time use skewed year‑to‑year comparisons and requested a more apples‑to‑apples analysis tied to the county manager’s tenure.

After extended discussion, commissioners voted against the motion (ayes: 2; nays: 3). Several commissioners said they remain open to management trials and that staff should continue monitoring productivity, overtime and service metrics and report back if a future trial or targeted pilot is appropriate.

The decision leaves the county’s current work schedule in place and directs staff to continue tracking operational metrics and report back with clarified data if requested.