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Florence council directs staff to adopt 4/10 work schedule policy with mandatory half‑hour lunch
Summary
Council directed staff to draft a policy to move administrative staff toward a four‑10‑hour‑day schedule, require a 30‑minute lunch break, keep essential services staffed, and return written changes to the Dec. 4 agenda. Staff will study holiday and accrual impacts and offer before/after school support for employees.
Florence — The Town Council on Nov. 17 directed staff to prepare a 4/10 alternative work schedule policy for administrative staff and to draft accompanying procedures addressing service coverage, holiday pay and leave accruals.
Town Manager Bruce Walls said his survey of employees found strong support for a four‑10‑hour‑day schedule. Council members and staff discussed two approaches: allow employees to "work through" a lunch (extending the day) or require a 30‑minute lunch plus two 15‑minute breaks. The council indicated a preference for a mandatory 30‑minute lunch while preserving flexible start times so employees can begin earlier or end later to minimize childcare and scheduling conflicts.
Staff clarified that critical services (utilities, wastewater plant, police, fire and community services) would remain staffed five days a week and that departments would stagger teams so public counter service remains available. Finance noted many customers now pay online and that consistent schedules aid internal coordination; department heads will retain authority to approve alternate schedules through HR and the town manager.
Council also raised implementation details: whether holiday pay should be paid as 8 or 10 hours under a 10‑hour schedule, whether accrual rates for sick and vacation should change, and how to handle weeks with holidays. Staff recommended keeping accruals at current (8‑hour equivalents) to limit long‑term payout liabilities and said they would draft clarifications. Council asked staff to evaluate childcare supports (a before/after program) and return utilization and cost data.
Next steps: Staff will prepare a policy/resolution reflecting council guidance (4/10 option available to departments, mandatory 30‑minute lunch, buildings open for public service with flexible staffing) and formalize holiday and accrual rules for the Dec. 4 meeting.
