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Town of Plainville Adopts Four-Day Work Week for Certain Municipal Departments Following Successful Pilot Program

Posted on: April 9, 2024 - 1:10pm

PLAINVILLE, CT – The Town of Plainville is adopting a four-day work week schedule for offices in the Municipal Center, the Recreation Department, and Youth Services Department. The official implementation of this program comes after a pilot program that began in August 2023. The pilot program proved successful in the Town’s goals to retain and recruit talented employees and continue to provide high quality services to the community.

Under this 4-day work week schedule, employees in participating offices continue to work the same number of hours each week, but in a condensed 4-day timeframe. This model has allowed the Municipal Center, Recreation Department, and Youth Services Department to extend their hours of operation on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday to 5:00 PM. The permanent hours of operation for these offices are as follows:

  • Monday to Wednesday: 8:00 am to 5:00 pm
  • Thursday: 8:00 am to 6:00 pm
  • Friday: Closed

The following services are examples of Town functions that are NOT impacted by the change in schedule or hours of operation:

  • Senior Center (while this was included in the pilot, the original hours were promptly restored)
  • Library
  • Public Safety (e.g. Fire, Police, EMS)
  • Public Works
  • Trash & Recycling Collection and Transfer Station
  • Parks
  • Summer camps, Berner Pool, Splash Pad, other recreational programs, etc.

Additionally, the Town currently offers and is looking to expand online services, such as paying taxes and fees, applying for building permits, and applying for fire permits. These online services, which are available 24/7/365, help us achieve our goals of improving efficiencies and overall accessibility.

The adoption of a 4-day work week is a significant step toward innovative work practices in response to the evolving needs of our workforce. The 4-day work week is widely recognized for its popularity nationwide and is considered a pivotal factor in remaining competitive in today’s hiring environment. In Connecticut, towns, such as Vernon and Mansfield, have also successfully implemented similar schedules.

While many private companies and government entities, such as the State of Connecticut, have successfully implemented hybrid work environments, we recognized that this approach might not suit Plainville's unique circumstances due to the size of our staff and the importance of remaining accessible to the community.

“We are excited to officially implement the four-day work week schedule following the success of our pilot program,” said Town Manager Michael Paulhus. “This forward-thinking approach reflects our commitment to better serve both our residents and employees, enhancing their experience with the Town of Plainville.”

Please visit the Town of Plainville website at www.plainvillect.com for additional information, resources, and services.