Denton staff propose early‑Friday closures and alternative workweek pilot to boost employee flexibility

City staff proposed a pilot to reduce public‑facing hours and expand alternative work schedules as a way to support staff retention while preserving service levels.

Amy Caslake, the city—s chief strategic officer, told council the pilot would reduce public face‑to‑face hours from 45 to 40 per week by closing some city facilities at noon on Fridays and would offer a menu of scheduling options for departments, including compressed weeks, staggered start times and continued remote work access. "This effort is really about creating balance by supporting employee well‑being while continuing to provide exceptional services to the public," Caslake said.

Staff recommended launching early closures on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, and rolling out alternative schedules with a target of full implementation by March 1, 2026. The pilot includes quantitative and qualitative monitoring (recruitment and retention metrics, service‑level agreements, community surveys and employee forums) and a planned council recommendation on whether to continue the program in April 2027.

Council members expressed broad support for trying the pilot but pressed staff for interim checkpoints and community engagement. "Is there a check‑in at six months?" asked one council member; staff said the pilot includes employee and community surveys plus service‑level agreements by department. Some members said they wanted real‑time community sentiment monitoring built into outreach plans. Staff said the city—s 311 (nonemergency) system will remain available 24/7 to handle routine requests while in‑person hours change.

Council did not take a formal vote on the pilot during the work session but directed staff to continue implementation preparations and to report back with evaluation plans and any needed clarifications.