LIHU‘E — On Monday, some county offices began implementing a temporary four-day, 10-hour day week as a way to reduce government employee movement while providing operating services to the public. But some elected officials have expressed their disapproval.
Mayor Derek Kawakami announced the change on April 30, effectively shifting employee hours to 6:45 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and have Friday off. This temporary measure will be in effect until the state’s disaster proclamation is lifted or when school resumes, whichever arrives first.
“Playing defense was the first stage,” Kawakami said. “The more complex challenge that we’re facing is the next phase which is emerging from that protective barrier and showing a staged, responsible approach to what is essentially reverse-engineering the economy.”
Yesterday, at a special meeting of the Kaua‘i County Council, members raised their concerns.
“While the mayor has made a lot of great decisions,” Vice Chair Ross Kagawa started. “In this case, I will disagree with this decision.”
Kagawa, who called for this special meeting with Kawakami and county Managing Director Michael Dahilig, explained that this “unilateral decision” by the Mayor’s office that affects both county employees and the public did not go through channels of checks and balances.
“I think when you deal with changing the hours of 400 of our county employees without going through the process of public hearings or having the legislative side give their stamp of approval … this is not a small move,” Kagawa said. “This is a big move.”
As the second-largest employer on the island, this “out-of-the-box idea” can limit employee movement, Kawakami said.
“We have to also look internally to see where we can scale back the amount of people moving about at any given time,” Kawakami said during the meeting.
There are some exceptions to this schedule which has been determined on a case-by-case basis, Dahilig said. Many employees who have received exemptions have cited child or kupuna care or health-related concerns.
Kagawa also expressed concern for the county’s future, adding that this can possibly open up union lawsuits in the future.
“We didn’t listen to our employees,” Kagawa said. “I think it’s better to do it right and then you don’t have to go through the other process of giving exemptions and figuring it out later [to keep Kaua‘i safe].”
Under this new, temporary schedule, most offices with windows will open at 7 a.m. and close at 5 p.m., including the Department of Motor Vehicles, Motor Vehicle Division, and effective next week on May 11, the Kaua‘i County Housing Agency’s Rental Assistance Division will resume in-person service for rental assistance clients and applicants by appointment only, from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Construction and engineering inspections will remain open by appointments on Fridays.
The changed schedule will not result in any reductions in pay, furloughs or layoffs.
“The big picture ask that we’re asking our employees, as part of their role as the second-largest employer on the island, if we can reduce movement where we can, that allows the ability for movement across the island and business in the private sector to come online,” Dahilig said.
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Sabrina Bodon, public safety and government reporter, can be reached at 245-0441 or sbodon@thegardenisland.com.
Source: The Garden Island