FARMINGTON — Selectmen at the Nov. 26 meeting voted 3-1 to move to a four-day work week at the Farmington Municipal Building. Beginning Jan. 1, 2025, office hours will be Monday, Wednesday and Thursday 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Tuesday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Selectmen Joshua Bell, Dennis O’Neil and Byron Staples supported the change. Selectman Richard Morton was opposed and Matthew Smith was absent.

The four selectmen present unanimously approved Public Works moving back to the Monday – Thursday 6 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. schedule it follows during the summer.

LaCroix, who attended the meeting via Zoom said she had reached out to towns of similar size regarding their office hour schedules. Livermore Falls moved to a four-day week at the town office July 1, just approved a four-day work week for Public Works, she noted. Waterville is bringing it forward, it is becoming a trend, she added.

“There are pros and cons, but in most cases the positives outweigh the negatives,” LaCroix emphasized. “It does not reduce our overall open hours.”

From the office staff who would be affected nine are in favor of the change, one employee is in favor of keeping the current office hours and two did not respond to the survey, she noted. Public Works employees struggle to adjust to the winter schedule, prefer the four-day week, LaCroix said. The eight-hour day is less efficient for Public Works as projects can’t always be finished during that time, she stated.

LaCroix said employees in the sewer and parks and recreation departments had no desire to change hours.

The four-day work week would give staff one more day a week to recharge, engage with family and friends, and get chores and errands accomplished that normally take time out of the two-day weekend, LaCroix said. Benefits for the town include improved staff productivity and morale, improved recruitment and retention, and possible energy and supply savings from being closed one more day a week, she noted. “There are even environmental benefits as employees would be commuting one less day per week,” she added.

With a five-day work week productivity is lost when employees have medical, dental or other professional appointments which aren’t available on the weekend, LaCroix said.

Several options for a four-day week were shared. While some removed the half hour allowed employees for lunch, the option chosen keeps time for lunch in place.

“It’s the wave of the future,” Selectman Dennis O’Neil said. He thought having the half hour lunch for employees was important.

Having office hours earlier and later four days a week would benefit customers as they could stop on their way to or from work rather than having to take time off. Online payment options are also available, it was noted.

Selectman Byron Staples said the four-day week could be tried, it could be adjusted later if needed.