Employee Alternative Work Schedules

1
Employee Alternative Work Schedules

• Candace C. Baker
• Clean Air Partners
• Program Manager

2
Why alternative work schedules?

• To support air quality goals of
• Reduced vehicle miles traveled (VMTs)
• Reduced VMTs during rush hour
• To support employee satisfaction and retention
• Provide work / family balance
• Reduce employee work-related expenses

3
Alternative Schedule Options

• Flexible work schedule / Flex time
• Compressed work week
• Teleworking

4
Flex Schedules

• Allows employees to adjust schedules to avoid
  rush hour travel
• May vary from employee to employee
• Example M-F 700 a.m. - 400 p.m.
• Example M-F 1000 a.m. - 700 p.m.
• Best Employee Fit
• Those not tied to specific service schedule
• Example Required on-site customer service hours

5
Flex Schedule Pros Cons

• Benefits
• Reduces peak time travel
• Workplace coverage over greater time span
• Flexibility for employees
• Constraints
• Must be designed to meet employers needs
• Potential supervision issues for employees and
  supervisor on different schedules

6
Compressed Work Weeks

• Allow employees to work fewer days with same
  number of hours
• Example 10 hour days, 4 days per week
• Example 9 hours days, 9 days in 2 weeks
• Best Employee Fit
• Daily presence not required has routine or long
  term projects
• Work coverage on those days off is available from
  other employees

7
Compressed Work Week Pros Cons

• Benefits
• Reduced vehicle miles traveled
• Workplace coverage over greater time span
• Flexibility for employees
• Constraints
• Must be designed to meet employers needs
• 9-9 schedule creates overtime costs for
  non-salary employees

8
Telework features

• Allows employees to work at home or a nearby
  satellite office, connected via phone and
  computer, one or more days per week
• Best Employee Fit
• Self-starters, good performers
• Performance managed more by reviewing results,
  not process
• PC-focused positions (e.g. auditing, accounting,
  data entry, program development, etc.)

9
Telework Pros Cons

• Benefits
• Reduced VMTs from eliminated commute trips
• Workplace coverage over greater time span
• Flexibility for employees
• Telework set-up allows access to do work outside
  regular work hours, if needed
• Constraints
• Technology issues - requires home equipment
  software needs, costs and maintenance
• Should not be a substitute for child/elder care
• Limited employee coordination, access,
  supervision

10
Combine Strategies

• Telework during peak hour traffic and commute to
  work during the non-peak, if/when necessary
• Allow teleworking during compressed work weeks,
  if/when appropriate

11
Strategies that work

• Set and communicate goals
• Provide resources
• Pilot projects to role model desired behavior
• Communicate to employees and supervisors
• Track results

12
Resources and Contact Information

• Candace Baker, Program Manager
• Candace_at_cleanairforce.org
• 512.350.6581
• www.cleanairpartnerstx.org
• GoToMyPC.com and similar telework access
  providers