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FPCD-77-62 1 (1977-09-26)

handle is hein.gao/gaobaavzr0001 and id is 1 raw text is: DCCUMENT RVSUME 03531 - (12723940] Benefits frcm Flexible Rork Schedules--Legal Limitations Remain. FPCD-77-62; E-179e10. September 26, 1977. 16 pp. + 5 &ppendices (11 pp.). Report to the Congress; by Elmer B. Staats, Comptroller General. Issue Area: Personnel Management and Compensation (300). Contact: Federal Personnel and Compensation Div. Budget Function: General Government: Central Personnel Panagement (805). Organizaticn Concerned: Civil SeTvice Commission. Congressional Relevance: House Committee on Post Office and Civil Service; Congress. Authority: Fair Labor Staniards Act. H.R. 2930 (95th Cong.). S. 517 (95th Coaiq.). 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 freedor to choose, within given constraints, their working tours. Compressed schedules are fixed and involve working the same number of hours as usual in fewer days. An estimated 10,000 non-Federal organizations with 1.2 million employees are using compressed schedules, and from 300,000 to 1 million non-Federal employees are using flexible schedules. As of May 1977, 90 Federal organizations with more than 141,000 employees were either experime ting with flexible schedules or using them permanently. FPndings/Conclusicns: In both Federal and non-Federal 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 wcrkflow was )rl to raintain properly. Employee unions ccnta:ted were not opposdd to schedules limiting employees to workdays of 8 hours or less, but felt that overtime should be paid even when the employee vclunteers for the overtime. The unictis considered the flexible schedules to be acceptable providing there is urion input in the planing. Existing labor laws hamper the experimentation in and use of alternate work schedules, especially making compressed schedules financially impractical. Recommendations: Congress should consi.der- removing legislative impediments to flexible and compressed work schedules, requiring the Civil Service Ccmmissio. Zo obtain dat4 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. (Author/SS)