N.S. municipality tests viability of four-day work week after coronavirus reorganization

A rural municipality in Nova Scotia will be testing a four-day work week for its employees over the next nine months.

The nine-month pilot project begins today in the Municipality of the District of Guysborough.

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Chief administrative officer Barry Carroll says it’s the direct result of a reorganization that was necessary to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Carroll says the change will see about 60 municipal employees work the same number of hours over a condensed work week, with either Monday or Friday off.

He says the move will allow municipal offices to stay open five days a week to serve the public, while giving employees flexibility and more time to deal with family life.

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Carroll says the pilot project will be evaluated by the end of January and a decision will be made on whether to make the change permanent.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 15, 2020.