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Utility Efficiency Roundtable II Benefits of Traditional Schedules

Explore the benefits and drawbacks of alternative work schedules like 4/10 hour days in a real-world setting. Superintendent David Hughes shares insights on efficiency, employee well-being, and financial impacts of different scheduling approaches. Learn from Scarborough Sanitary District's experience and gain valuable recommendations for implementing work schedules that suit your facility.

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Utility Efficiency Roundtable II Benefits of Traditional Schedules

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  1. Utility Efficiency Roundtable IIBenefits of Traditional Schedules David Hughes, PE Superintendent

  2. SubtitleThe grass isn’t always greenerReal World Results David Hughes, PE Superintendent

  3. Don’t Any Questions?

  4. About Me • David Hughes Superintendent , Scarborough Sanitary District Worked for SSD since 2011 Not a licensed operator: I am a registered Professional Engineer Overall spent a little over 25 years on the private side: Inspection, Contract Operations, Design and Management Whitman and Howard/Earth Tech (Now AECOM) Wright Pierce Woodard & Curran

  5. AboutScarborough Sanitary District • We are a District • Connected to the town at the hip • Not managed by the town • 7 member board • 2.5 mgd secondary treatment facility • 24 pump stations • about 4,800 users • Rapidly growing community • Operate & Maintain WWTF, pump stations, and collection system. • Subcontract mowing (PS not the plant), large CCTV projects, large jetting projects, sludge disposal and any major facility repairs • 12 full time staff • Great benefit package • Competitive wages • Excellent facilities • Progressive

  6. Scarborough Sanitary DistrictAlternative Work Schedule • Implemented in 2004 • By Choice: No one was required to work 4/10s • SSD still allows an alternative work schedule. • But we have been scaling it back • Currently it is not available to new employees • Essence of the Program • 4/10 hour days • Patriots Day to Labor Day • Facilities staffed 5 days/week • Some staff had Mondays off, others had Fridays off • Consequently the District staffed 50 hours/week • Limited staffing on Mondays and Fridays

  7. ProAlternative Work Schedule • Improved Efficiency: • Motivates employees to work more harder • Employee choose their own Four day work week strategy • Less Commuting: • Gas and time savings • Environmental Impacts • Work-Life Balance • Personal activities • More Loyal Employees Best thing since canned beer

  8. Et ContraAlternative Work Schedule • Decreased Efficiency: • Fatigue becomes and issue: new work pattern can physicallyand mentally drain an individual • Facilities are rarely fully staffed • Increased Stress: Have to get work done in 4 days rather then 5 • Employees tend to take more frequent breaks • Facilities not staffed when others expect it to be open • Work-Life Balance • Child Care • Light night dinners/missing family dinners • Missing afterschool activities • Impacts on after work hobbies & second jobs • Politics • Public Perception

  9. REAL WORLD RESULTS After 15 Years:Number of Staff Currently Utilizing the 4/10s zero

  10. What Happened • Basically the Cons out weighed the Pros • By Choice: The migration away from 4/10s was a personal choice • We Saw a Decrease in Efficiency: • My CPO grew to despise the 4/10s • Fatigue becomes and issue: The 10 hour workday was hard to maintain. • Facilities were rarely fully staffed making large projects hard to complete • It Negatively impacted the Work-Life Balance • Travel times actually increased due to rush hour • All house projects got pushed off to the day off (rainy day) • Couldn’t coach his kids Soccer, Impacted Cub Scouts • Mom ended up taking the Child Care burden: Summer Camps typically 8-3 • Limited the enjoyment of the summer evenings; beach, sailing, dinners, fires

  11. Efficiencies Brunswick • Reduction in plant walks • How many problems are discovered? • What is the benefit of discovering a problem early? • No longer staffed 365 days/year • Why come in to test ph? • Beyond policy changes… • Reduced power consumption$30,000/year • Reduced heating costs$20,000/year • Reduction in chemical usage$25,000/year Scarborough • What does that really save? • More then enough to make it worth while? • The difference between a making permit and a violation? • But the plant runs 365 days/year • Operations are not static. • Since moving back to a standard schedule… • Reduced power consumption$100,000/year • Reduced heating costs$20,000/year • Reduction in chemical usage$25,000/year • Reduction in staff $120,000,000/year

  12. Recommendations • Alternative Work Schedules • Do what works for your facility • Move forward with open eyes • Be flexible • Listen to you staff • Be the Parent • One size doesn’t fit all but the employee must fit the job • Do your job • Hate Mondays, Wednesday is hump day, Living for Fridays • Get a new job!!!!

  13. REAL WORLD RESULTS After 15 Years:Number of Staff Currently Utilizing the 4/10s zero

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