Fountain Valley city employees could soon be working 10-hours a day, four days a week as part of a new 6-month trial expected to run in the future.
Currently, full time city employees work 9 days every two weeks for 80 hours – which is broken up into eight nine-hour days and one eight-hour day.
City officials agreed in March to try out what they’re calling the 4-10 pilot program after a survey to city staff revealed that 36 city staff members are in support.
Surveyed staff have said that the new work week would aid in promoting a healthy work-life balance, more time with family, and improved work productivity.
The next steps to establish the program would be to complete the labor negotiation process, notify the public, and start the program soon after the new fiscal year on July 1 but no certain start date has been set.
However, there were mixed opinions from Councilmembers and residents.
Councilmember Kim Constantine disagreed with the 4-10 pilot program and argued that the schedule would mess up work weeks for contractors, homeowners, and property owners and that 12 full-time employees did not participate in the survey.
“It’s true, contractors work hard Monday through Thursday knowing that they’re going to have an inspection potentially on Friday,” said Constantine. “That would really skew things.”
The new schedule emulates the schedules of the city yard, administration, and police department administration. The new schedule would also adjust the city hall hours to be open for 11 hours per day, Monday through Thursday from 7 a.m. until 6 p.m.
Currently, city hall is open Monday through Thursday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. and every other Friday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Other surveyed city workers raised concerns about the long work days, which some felt would hinder their ability to spend time with their families and follow childcare schedules.
Councilmember Patrick Harper, along with Councilmember Ted Bui, were in favor of putting the pilot program through a trial period before determining if they should go forward with the schedule.
“If we do this, I want to be a win-win for the employees and the public, so I think keeping the extra hour open on regular days is a good idea,” said Harper. “If there was a way we could still be open on one of the Fridays while maintaining the 4/10 schedule then that would be a win-win for the public.”
Bui echoed similar thoughts.
“I do agree that the pilot program should be shorter, six months to a year is too long,” said Bui. “I’m okay with either three months or six months.”
The council ultimately voted that the 4-10 pilot program will go through a six-month trial period, following up with staff in three months to determine how it’s affecting the residents.
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