Plainville town officials announced the municipality is implementing a new four-day workweek for its employees later this month, a practice growing in popularity within both local government and the private sector.
Town officials recently announced the launch of a six-month pilot program that begins Aug. 21, and will require departments to operate for an extra hour — from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Wednesday — but close on Friday. The offices will also close an hour earlier than normal on Thursdays, offering services from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
These changes will impact the Plainville Municipal Center, Recreation Department and Youth Services Department, according to the town. The Senior Center will be open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Mondays, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, and close on Fridays.
Town officials said the pilot program aims to help residents better plan their visits to municipal offices while also hoping to improve the needs of its employees.
Mansfield and Vernon have previously offered similar schedules to employees in their towns, and private businesses have been more willing to offer staff a reduced workweek or hybrid schedule since COVID-19 forced remote work on many companies. A Hartford Business Journal poll from May 2022 found that 64% of respondents were willing to offer their employees a four-day workweek.
Plainville officials said that hybrid work isn’t feasible for the town based on the services it offers and size of its employee base, so the four-day workweek is another way the town can modify schedules for employees.
Town officials said they’ll be gathering feedback during the six-month trial period from both employees and residents to assess how the new schedule is doing.
