Effective December 17
The Laboratory is rolling out additional flexible work schedule options and changing some of its leave procedures effective December 17. The new work schedule options are open to Laboratory workers.
"The new flexible work schedule options were recommended by Lab management, as well as the Women's Diversity Working Group, to help Lab workers maintain a healthy work-life balance," said Ben Glover, Human Resources (HR) Division leader. "We are grateful for the assistance in identifying the needs and preferences of Lab personnel."
One new flexible work schedule option is a 4.5/40 schedule (40 hours in 4.5 days) that allows Lab workers to work nine hours Monday through Thursday and four hours on Friday. In addition, workers will be able to request changes to their schedule anytime, instead of only in May and November, but still only twice per year, said Glover.
Additionally, exempt workers on the 9/80 schedule will be allowed, with manager approval, to occasionally swap or work their Friday off if they miss time in the same week as a result of vacation or illness. Non-exempt workers can continue to use the "personal reschedule" option.
"We looked into offering greater flexibility in non-exempt work schedules. Unfortunately, we were unable to offer additional options because of overtime implications," said Glover.
Leave policy modifications
The changes to leave procedures also give LANS employees more flexibility, said Doris Heim, associate director for business services (ADBS). The key change is that exempt employees will charge leave (e.g., vacation, sick leave, or jury duty) in one-hour increments, instead of half-days. With this new practice, recording time to discretionary absence is no longer needed, so this time code will be eliminated. Non-exempt personnel will continue to charge leave in 15-minute increments.
In addition, LANS will allow a cash payout of vacation hours for employees at maximum accrual who are mandated to work and would otherwise lose vacation. LANS also will allow a cash payout of vacation hours in other limited circumstances, such as when an employee needs the payout to cover excessive medical bills.
See an all employee memo for more information.
