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“Flex-Time” Proposal Runs Out of Time, but OPEA Still Hopeful

 

 

Bill Would Have Allowed State Employees to Work Four-Day Week

 

A bill authored by State Representative Mike Shelton and Senator Earl Garrison allowing state employees to work longer hours but fewer days ran out of time during this year’s legislative session, which ended Friday.

 

But OPEA officials are working to keep the gist of the bill in tact, and allow state employees to work four 10-hour days instead of the regular five-day work week, thereby saving substantially on travel costs.

 

“We were disappointed the bill never made it out of session, but we simply ran out of time,” said Sterling Zearley, OPEA Executive Director.

 

“OPEA is now working with directors from state agencies, trying to initiate a flex-time schedule where feasible, and still keep state offices operational,” Zearley said.

 

Look for additional information on OPEA’s website, and in the July issue of The Advocate.

 

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Posted on Tue, May 27, 2008 by Mark Beutler

7 comments (Add your own)

1. Protag wrote:
Once again, thanks for nothing.. as a state employee that switched to the four 10 work week two years ago, this does absolutly nothing.

But keep trying.. Here's an idea... why don't you ask the organizations how they think you could help out, then try to do something that will actually do something good.

I can't wait for election time.. hope you fools are ready.. because I will be organizing to get you slackers out of office and get someone in there that can balance a budget and take care of the priorities instead of little pet projects.

Stand by folk.. reckoning is coming in this state.. and educated voters will make that happen... gone are the days of the sheeple who will blindly vote for you because you are a republican or democrat.. folks are starting to wake up...and for those that havent.. wake up people... it is up to you to take your state back...

Wed, May 28, 2008 @ 6:47 AM

2. Red-headed step-child wrote:
Good luck getting the ODOT director to sign off on it.
He abolished the central office flex-time policy shortly after becoming director.

Wed, May 28, 2008 @ 10:53 AM

3. Disappointed wrote:
I don't think they realize how serious the situation is. I am very disappointed thate the state thinks so little of it's employees.

Wed, May 28, 2008 @ 2:27 PM

4. Awakened Electorate wrote:
Ran out of time? It doesn't take any time to pass this no-brainer bill. Each agency director, of course, will run his or her organization according to the schedule requirements of that agency's services. However, a great number of state employees' schedules can be flexible.

This bill costs the state nothing, absolutely nothing. But, it will cost more now to address it again, debate it, etc., on the part of many and not the least of which regards the time and money spent by our own OPEA. I guess that's how state legislators keep something to do on their jobs.

The legislature scared us into humble acceptance of no salary increase this year. They scared us by introducing a bogus bill, HB3012, that would take money away from us. That didn't pass; so now we can say "Well, we didn't get a raise, but at least they didn't take any money away from us." That was the whole intent of HB3012.

Disappointed wrote: "I don't think they realize how serious the situation is."
How could they? A large percentage of them are attorneys, who have built substantial, personal wealth. Paying $4.00 or $6.00 per gallon of gas doesn't really affect them. They don't get it that the vast majority of state employees could literally reach a point where traveling to work simply can no longer be done.

I will end this by quoting everything Protag said, because it's worth repeating:
"Once again, thanks for nothing.. as a state employee that switched to the four 10 work week two years ago, this does absolutly nothing.

But keep trying.. Here's an idea... why don't you ask the organizations how they think you could help out, then try to do something that will actually do something good.

I can't wait for election time.. hope you fools are ready.. because I will be organizing to get you slackers out of office and get someone in there that can balance a budget and take care of the priorities instead of little pet projects.

Stand by folk.. reckoning is coming in this state.. and educated voters will make that happen... gone are the days of the sheeple who will blindly vote for you because you are a republican or democrat.. folks are starting to wake up...and for those that havent.. wake up people... it is up to you to take your state back... "

Sincerely,
The Awakened Electorate

Thu, May 29, 2008 @ 9:09 AM

5. Just Think'in wrote:
You know this bill might have had a chance if it had been approached as a way to save the state money. If State offices went to a four day week the savings in utilities alone would be amazing. I realize that this is radically thinking for some but we are operating on a standstill budget and utilities cost are raising at unbelievable rate. I believe it may have been an easy sell, if not this year for sure next year, as revenue projects are dismal.

Thu, May 29, 2008 @ 9:55 AM

6. Red-headed step child twin wrote:
Same thing over at the Tax Commission, as soon as the new Administrator came on board, no more flex work weeks. Never mind that it would cut down on the average state employee's transportation costs by 20% with ZERO loss in productivity.
No raises and no concessions to adjust to the higher costs of living.
What do they care? They make 80k+ in salary per year.

Thu, May 29, 2008 @ 12:40 PM

7. P wrote:
I'd like for OPEA to try to get us a 7 hour day - 35 hours per week. This could be in lieu of a pay raise since we're not getting one.

Thu, May 29, 2008 @ 4:22 PM

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