Friday, March 29, 2024
ADVT 
National

Merritt, B.C., to pilot four-day work week

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 22 Sep, 2022 03:08 PM
  • Merritt, B.C., to pilot four-day work week

MERRITT, B.C. - The City of Merritt in the B.C. Interior is launching a four-day work week pilot program in hopes of attracting, recruiting and retaining municipal workers.

Merritt’s chief administrative officer says the one-year trial, approved by council on Tuesday, will see city hall closed on Mondays, with operational hours extended Tuesday through Friday to 8 a.m. to 5:45 p.m., an extra hour and 45 minutes each day.

Sean Smith says wages won't change but hopes the compressed work week will allow the city to compete with other jurisdictions, without affecting the bottom line for Merritt taxpayers.

He says it comes at a time when the city is working to recover from last fall's floods, which devastated the community and caused additional challenges for staff retention.

Smith says the city also believes the scheme will benefit residents by allowing them to access municipal staff before or after usual work hours.

He says the project will be reviewed at the six-month mark through staff and public surveys to gauge its effectiveness and identify areas where changes may need to be made.

The start date for the pilot program hasn't yet been decided, but Smith says he expects it will launch this fall.

MORE National ARTICLES

B.C. report notes ways to curb prolific offenders

B.C. report notes ways to curb prolific offenders
There are more than two dozen recommendations in their report aimed at the provincial prosecution service and the courts, saying it isn’t sustainable for police to continue to bear the main responsibility to manage prolific offenders. Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth says the government will start with the return of a prolific offenders management program.

B.C. report notes ways to curb prolific offenders

Darpan's 10: Randeep Gill, MD

Darpan's 10: Randeep Gill, MD
The Medical Advisory Committee was created to facilitate full representation across all the departments of the hospital, so that we can tap into the wisdom and expertise of all those voices. Essentially, we’re creating an advocacy group amongst the physicians practising in SMH.

Darpan's 10: Randeep Gill, MD

Stats Canada says Canada's homeownership rate fell in latest 2021 census release

Stats Canada says Canada's homeownership rate fell in latest 2021 census release
The decline in homeownership rates between 2011 and 2021 was the largest for younger Canadians, with the rate falling to 36.5 from 44.1 for those between the ages of 25 and 29. Canadians between the ages of 30 and 34 experienced a similar but slightly smaller decline in homeownership, falling to 52.3 per cent from 59.2 per cent.

Stats Canada says Canada's homeownership rate fell in latest 2021 census release

Injured man left in vehicle identified as 27 year old Richard Ofosuhene, of Edmonton

Injured man left in vehicle identified as 27 year old Richard Ofosuhene, of Edmonton
Homicide investigators say 27-year-old Richard Ofosuhene of Edmonton was found Tuesday, injured and unconscious, in the driver's seat of a running vehicle on a Surrey street. Police say Ofosuhene was known to police and had ties to drug trafficking in Alberta but they believe his homicide is an isolated incident.

Injured man left in vehicle identified as 27 year old Richard Ofosuhene, of Edmonton

Trudeau still favoured as PM over Poilievre: poll

Trudeau still favoured as PM over Poilievre: poll
The poll shows support for the Liberals fell a dramatic five points since early August, while the Tories gained six points. The NDP also rose by two and the People's Party of Canada fell by two. The poll suggests the Liberals' popularity has declined since one year ago, when Trudeau was re-elected for a second time to form a minority government.

Trudeau still favoured as PM over Poilievre: poll

Appeal Court removes stay on Broncos lawsuit

Appeal Court removes stay on Broncos lawsuit
Sixteen people were killed and 13 were injured when an inexperienced truck driver went through a stop sign and into the path of the junior hockey team's bus at a rural intersection near Tisdale, Sask., on April 6, 2018. Jaskirat Singh Sidhu, the trucker who caused the crash, was sentenced to eight years in prison after he pleaded guilty to dangerous driving charges. In July, he was granted day parole for six months.

Appeal Court removes stay on Broncos lawsuit