County staff say 4-day winter workweek increases overtime about 4% but may net out after mobilization savings

Dan Gleason, highway department staff, presented a four-year analysis comparing the county’s winter maintenance costs under a 5-day and a 4-day workweek, saying total winter-maintenance hours were nearly identical but a 4-day schedule led to a roughly 4% increase in overtime.

Gleason said the average additional cost of a 4-day workweek was about $9,000 but that savings in mobilization—an efficiency gain—reduced costs by nearly $15,000, leaving the change at or near breakeven. He asked that the finance director review his methodology for comparing and projecting costs.

Committee members questioned details and operational impacts. Billy Fried asked why call pay was paid on Fridays under a 5-day schedule; Gleason clarified call pay applies when crews are called in before a scheduled Friday shift. Dan Hess said he was open to a 4-day week but preferred scheduling flexibility (for example, Tuesday–Friday shifts); Chair Ted Cushing said he favored a 4-day week without flexible scheduling. Bob Almekinder raised concerns that unhappy employees increase turnover and that retention creates efficiencies.

Gleason also observed that if employees bank additional overtime as comp time, taking time off later can reduce general maintenance labor costs. No formal vote was recorded on changing the winter work schedule; the committee asked staff and the finance director for further vetting and analysis.

The committee’s next steps are to have finance review the comparisons and return with updated figures and recommended scheduling options.