Employment:

Benefits from Flexible Work Schedules--Legal Limitations Remain

FPCD-77-62, Sep 26, 1977

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There is no apparent reason why the government might not benefit from the use of flexible or compressed work schedules. A flexible schedule allows employees the freedom to choose, within given constraints, their working hours. Compressed schedules are fixed and involve working the same number of hours as usual in fewer days. An estimated 10,000 nonfederal organizations with 1.2 million employees are using compressed schedules, and from 300,000 to 1 million nonfederal employees are using flexible schedules. As of May 1977, 90 federal organizations with more than 141,000 employees were either experimenting with flexible schedules or using them permanently.

In both federal and nonfederal organizations, increased productivity, improved morale, reduced tardiness, and reduced short-term leave usage were noted. Disadvantages were generally that meetings were difficult to arrange and work flow was hard to maintain properly. Employee unions contacted were not opposed to schedules limiting employees to workdays of 8 hours or less, but felt that overtime should be paid even when the employee volunteers for the overtime. The unions considered the flexible schedules to be acceptable providing there is union input in the planning. Existing labor laws hamper the experimentation in and use of alternate work schedules, especially making compressed schedules financially impractical.

Status Legend:

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  • Review Pending-GAO has not yet assessed implementation status.
  • Open-Actions to satisfy the intent of the recommendation have not been taken or are being planned, or actions that partially satisfy the intent of the recommendation have been taken.
  • Closed-implemented-Actions that satisfy the intent of the recommendation have been taken.
  • Closed-not implemented-While the intent of the recommendation has not been satisfied, time or circumstances have rendered the recommendation invalid.
    • Review Pending
    • Open
    • Closed - implemented
    • Closed - not implemented

    Matter for Congressional Consideration

    Matter: Congress should consider: removing legislative impediments to flexible and compressed work schedules, requiring the Civil Service Commission to obtain data on work schedules which most contribute to efficient agency operations, and allowing the Commission to determine whether altered work schedules should have wider or more general application.

    Status: Closed

    Comments: Please call 202/512-6100 for additional information.