4.5-Day Work Week Adopted for Door County Employees

New hours for County of Door employees have been changed to achieve four-and-a-half-day work weeks. 

The hours adopted by the Door County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday are 7 am – 4:30 pm, Monday-Thursday, and 7 am – 11 am on Friday. The hours were previously 8 am – 4:30 pm, Monday-Friday.

The new hours will be tried until Oct. 1, with the county board assessing in August how they’re working, said Kelly Hendee, Door County human resources director.

The hours are general to County of Door employees. Some building and department-specific differences exist, such as for the Justice Center and Aging and Disability Resource Center, as well as for highway and parks employees who have staff needs and demands that vary by season.

But generally speaking, and including those who work at the Government Center, 421 Nebraska St. – corporation counsel, county administrator, human resources, finance, soil and water conservation, facilities and parks, human services, register of deeds, veterans services, county clerk, county treasurer, public health and technology – services can now be accessed an hour earlier Monday-Thursday in exchange for shorter days on Fridays.

“The building itself may have offices closed [on Fridays after 11 am], but Human Services will still have schedules by appointment,” said Ken Pabich, county administrator. “So the building itself will still be open.”

The county has been tweaking its workforce policies over the past couple of years with input from department heads and an eye on maintaining the delivery of services through hours that achieve a more desirable work-life balance for employees. 

“This whole thing evolved since COVID that we can do things differently, and the demand from employees is strong,” Hendee said.

Another policy that has already been put into place allows employees to request an alternative work schedule, and the county is currently working on a draft policy for remote working or working from home.