Santa Clarita / Antelope Valley : New City Hall Workweek Hikes Efficiency, Report Says : Santa Clarita: Longer hours and alternating Fridays off lead to productivity gains, fewer sick days. Skeptics question whether residents’ needs are being met.

A work schedule that gives city employees every other Friday off has resulted in a rise in productivity with less time lost in sick days and less overtime, according to a recent city report.

But the cost savings to the city, projected at $42,500 a year, still has not settled a debate over how many days Santa Clarita City Hall should be open each week.

The current work schedule went into effect in March, with employees working 80 hours over nine days rather than 10. It was part of Santa Clarita’s efforts to meet South Coast Air Quality Management District standards, which require businesses with 100 or more employees to reduce their car trips to work by encouraging car-pooling, the use of public transportation and bicycling.

A study of the new program showed that in comparison with May through October last year, city employees this year took an average of 4.5 fewer hours of sick leave, a 21% reduction.

Other businesses and agencies that have switched to such modified schedules have also shown a reduction in sick time, said Assistant City Manager Ken Pulskamp. “This information is not unusual,” he said. “We thought we might (see savings). It’s just a positive byproduct.”

No comparisons are available for overtime due to the countless additional hours accrued following the Northridge earthquake. However, city personnel officials believe there have been similar savings.

When City Council members initially discussed the modified schedule, some officials feared that closing city offices every other Friday would create the illusion that employees are putting in fewer hours. Others noted that air quality isn’t being improved if city employees drive on their day off.

Some of the skeptics were not swayed by the new study.

“The people expect people to be at City Hall,” said Councilwoman Jan Heidt. “If you’re off on Friday, you’re not sitting at home not using your car.”

Heidt has directed personnel officials to suggest alternatives to the staggered work schedule. A report on those proposals will be presented to the council Jan. 10.

Also next month, surveys will be placed on public counters at City Hall asking residents if current City Hall hours are meeting their needs, Pulskamp said.

This is not the first time Santa Clarita has operated on a compressed workweek. From January, 1992, to January, 1994, city workers were given every other Monday off, but schedules were staggered so each department was half-staffed, theoretically allowing employees to cover for one another.

However, department heads said residents had difficulty contacting city employees, productivity dropped as employees covered for absent colleagues and staff meetings were difficult to schedule.