Following an 18-month trial period, the municipality of Summerland will continue its compressed work week and look into expanding the program.

The trial program began as a trial on July 1, 2023, and will end on Dec. 28, 2024. 

The former municipal hall office hours of Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. were replaced by a Tuesday to Friday schedule, from 8:15 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the office closed on Mondays. The Summerland Aquatic and Fitness Centre also moved to a similar four-day schedule.

While some employees were still needed on a five-day work week, the majority of staff shifted to the four-day compressed work week.

Marnie Manders, manager of human resources for the municipality, said the change in office hours has been well received by the public. 

鈥淕enerally, the large majority of comments on these extended hours from the public are all positive, as they genuinely appreciate the extended hours,鈥� she said in a report to council.

The work-week was implemented in part as a way of increasing staff retention. 

Manders said in 2023, staff retention increased, but in 2024, the employee turnover has increased slightly, although it is still below the level from 2022, before the compressed work week was introduced.

The municipality will continue with the four-day compressed work week model for municipal hall and aquatic centre staff, and will also look into expanding the program to other departments, as long as it still meets the needs of the customer, employees and operational requirements of the department.