Green FridayGreen FridayInitiativeInitiative

GFOA Conference 2009GFOA Conference 2009

BackgroundBackground

An idea proposed by the Employee An idea proposed by the Employee Retention & Recruitment Committee Retention & Recruitment Committee

A different kind of alternative work A different kind of alternative work schedule; an innovative, “thinking schedule; an innovative, “thinking outside the box” proposaloutside the box” proposal

60% of employees were already 60% of employees were already working some form of alternative working some form of alternative work schedulework schedule

Green Friday ConceptGreen Friday Concept

Typically known as Dark Friday or Black Typically known as Dark Friday or Black Friday in some public and private sectorsFriday in some public and private sectors

Practiced in North Las Vegas, some Practiced in North Las Vegas, some California citiesCalifornia cities

City of Yuma has been closing every other City of Yuma has been closing every other Friday for the past three yearsFriday for the past three years

City Hall closed on Friday – in exchange for City Hall closed on Friday – in exchange for extended hours Monday through Thursday extended hours Monday through Thursday (7 a.m. to 6 p.m.)(7 a.m. to 6 p.m.)

Green Friday ConceptGreen Friday Concept

Committee came up with term Committee came up with term “Green Friday” because of heavy “Green Friday” because of heavy focus on environmental stewardshipfocus on environmental stewardship

Allows Avondale to conduct business Allows Avondale to conduct business in an environmentally friendly in an environmentally friendly manner, while expanding customer manner, while expanding customer service opportunitiesservice opportunities

Benefits of Green FridayBenefits of Green Friday Enhanced customer service – longer City Enhanced customer service – longer City

Hall hours Monday through Thursday Hall hours Monday through Thursday Ensures that Avondale meets its trip Ensures that Avondale meets its trip

reduction goal for City Hallreduction goal for City Hall Driving to work one less day – personal Driving to work one less day – personal

cost savings, cuts down on associated cost savings, cuts down on associated trips (driving to the daycare) – overall trips (driving to the daycare) – overall better for the environment better for the environment

Savings - janitorial services, Savings - janitorial services, electrical/water use at City Hallelectrical/water use at City Hall

Reduce carbon footprint at City HallReduce carbon footprint at City Hall

First Employee Survey First Employee Survey Majority supported Green Friday conceptMajority supported Green Friday concept Scheduling doctor/dental appointments on Scheduling doctor/dental appointments on

Friday minimizes time off during the weekFriday minimizes time off during the week Employees save on commuting, child care, Employees save on commuting, child care,

lunch, GAS!lunch, GAS! Allow for more family and personal timeAllow for more family and personal time Good for morale; could reduce sick leaveGood for morale; could reduce sick leave Arguably – more productiveArguably – more productive

Implementing Green FridayImplementing Green Friday

April 14, 2008 City Council gave April 14, 2008 City Council gave green light for pilot program green light for pilot program

Planned launch June 2Planned launch June 2 Four-month trial periodFour-month trial period Staff to present findings on Oct. 6 Staff to present findings on Oct. 6

Implementing Green FridayImplementing Green Friday

Green Friday Committee to address Green Friday Committee to address issues such as holidays, payroll, issues such as holidays, payroll, customer service, impact to customer service, impact to departments, water shut-offsdepartments, water shut-offs

ConsiderationsConsiderations Doesn’t work across the organizationDoesn’t work across the organization Departments will have to carefully review Departments will have to carefully review

employees’ roles, develop specific policies employees’ roles, develop specific policies regarding implementation regarding implementation

Need to raise public awareness of new Need to raise public awareness of new scheduleschedule

Enhance technology to minimize impact of Enhance technology to minimize impact of Friday closure (ie. online bill payments and Friday closure (ie. online bill payments and class registration)class registration)

Ongoing evaluation to ensure customer Ongoing evaluation to ensure customer service delivery is not negatively impactedservice delivery is not negatively impacted

Public Outreach/MarketingPublic Outreach/Marketing

Surveyed the public Surveyed the public Internal – FAQs via email, Employee Internal – FAQs via email, Employee

newsletter, department meetingsnewsletter, department meetings All employees involved in the public All employees involved in the public

information processinformation process

Public Outreach/MarketingPublic Outreach/Marketing

Developed logo/brandDeveloped logo/brand Information for website – FAQs, hotline Information for website – FAQs, hotline

numbersnumbers Press release issued May 6; subsequent Press release issued May 6; subsequent

interviews with TV, Radio and printinterviews with TV, Radio and print Water bills, posters, Post-its, outgoing Water bills, posters, Post-its, outgoing

email, voice mailemail, voice mail Staff volunteers to work the first couple of Staff volunteers to work the first couple of

FridaysFridays

Findings to CouncilFindings to Council

Trip Reduction – 200 vehicles off the Trip Reduction – 200 vehicles off the road on Friday during peak hoursroad on Friday during peak hours

Extended hours – 550 customers Extended hours – 550 customers served during 7-8 a.m. and 6-7 p.m.served during 7-8 a.m. and 6-7 p.m.

Resident Satisfaction – no major Resident Satisfaction – no major complaints; 82% surveyed said keep complaints; 82% surveyed said keep Green Friday scheduleGreen Friday schedule

Employee SurveyEmployee Survey

42% of workforce responded to 42% of workforce responded to surveysurvey

82% said keep Green Friday 82% said keep Green Friday schedule; 4% no opinion; 6% schedule; 4% no opinion; 6% summertime onlysummertime only

8% who said no – cited issues with 8% who said no – cited issues with childcare, school, “longer days.”childcare, school, “longer days.”

Mostly, employees felt more Mostly, employees felt more productive; enjoy 3 day weekendproductive; enjoy 3 day weekend

Cost SavingsCost Savings

Janitorial ServicesJanitorial Services 4 day cleaning schedule provided a 4 day cleaning schedule provided a

$787.00 per month savings$787.00 per month savings Annual savingsAnnual savings $9,444.00$9,444.00

Energy Savings -- ElectricalEnergy Savings -- Electrical

City hall electric meterCity hall electric meter

5 day work schedule5 day work schedule 93,800 kw per/mo93,800 kw per/mo

4 day work schedule4 day work schedule 81,760 kw per/mo81,760 kw per/mo

Average savingsAverage savings 12,040 kw per/mo12,040 kw per/mo

Percentage reductionPercentage reduction 13%13%

Average monthly savings Average monthly savings $1,135.37$1,135.37

Average annual savingsAverage annual savings $13,624.44$13,624.44

Energy SavingsEnergy Savings

Chiller PlantChiller Plant5 day work schedule5 day work schedule 125,120 kw 125,120 kw per/moper/mo4 day work schedule4 day work schedule 77,200 kw 77,200 kw per/moper/mo

Average savingsAverage savings 47,920 kw per/mo47,920 kw per/moPercentage reductionPercentage reduction 38%38%Average monthly savings Average monthly savings $2,571.46$2,571.46Average annual savingsAverage annual savings $30,857.52$30,857.52

Holiday Pay -- ObjectivesHoliday Pay -- Objectives

Equalize allocation for each full-time Equalize allocation for each full-time regular employee to receive 88 hours per regular employee to receive 88 hours per fiscal year.fiscal year.

Identify ways to maximize the number of Identify ways to maximize the number of days that City offices are open to serve days that City offices are open to serve citizens.citizens.

Increase flexibility for employees.Increase flexibility for employees. Insure that adoption of Green Friday or Insure that adoption of Green Friday or

other alternate schedules does not other alternate schedules does not increase the cost of doing business.increase the cost of doing business.

Holiday Pay -- ProposalHoliday Pay -- Proposal

Each FT regular employee receives Each FT regular employee receives 88 hours to use between July 1-June 88 hours to use between July 1-June 30.30.

City holidays would be announced in City holidays would be announced in June for the upcoming fiscal year.June for the upcoming fiscal year.

Holidays that fall on Friday, Saturday Holidays that fall on Friday, Saturday or Sunday for those working Green or Sunday for those working Green Friday schedule would be handled as Friday schedule would be handled as floating holidays. floating holidays.

A listing of premium holidays will be prepared in A listing of premium holidays will be prepared in June of each year. On a premium holiday, any June of each year. On a premium holiday, any non-exempt employee will be paid 1 ½ times non-exempt employee will be paid 1 ½ times their normal rate for any hours worked. Premium their normal rate for any hours worked. Premium holidays for 2008-09:holidays for 2008-09:

Independence Day*Independence Day* Labor Day*Labor Day* Veterans DayVeterans Day ThanksgivingThanksgiving Christmas DayChristmas Day New Year’s DayNew Year’s Day MLK DayMLK Day Presidents DayPresidents Day Memorial DayMemorial Day *already past for *already past for

‘08‘08

Green Friday – catching onGreen Friday – catching on

Dozens of newspaper articles, TV Dozens of newspaper articles, TV interviews – including USA TODAY, LA interviews – including USA TODAY, LA Times, America’s Cities & Towns Times, America’s Cities & Towns Magazine, S. Korean documentaryMagazine, S. Korean documentary

Other cities and governments Other cities and governments following suit – Queen Creek, following suit – Queen Creek, Buckeye, state of Utah, Birmingham, Buckeye, state of Utah, Birmingham, ALAL

A nationwide trend A nationwide trend

Questions?Questions?

www.avondale.orgPier Simeri Pier Simeri

psimeri@avondale.orgDan Davis Dan Davis

ddavis@avondale.orgddavis@avondale.org