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COLUMBIA COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS APPROVED: July 21, 2009 TOPIC: Hours of Work Policy Number 205.1 POLICY SECTION: Human Resources Page 1 of 2 I. PURPOSE To establish a policy setting uniform hours of work for Employees. II. POLICY Normal working hours for Employees are eight hours, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., five days per work week, with a one hour unpaid lunch period. This does not include personnel engaged in shift work. Employees are expected to be at their work location and ready to begin work at the beginning of their work schedule. The lunch period will be scheduled to allow for continuous staffing of all offices with at least one person. Employees may receive, but are not required to have, a rest period of not less than fifteen (15) minutes, on the County's time, for each four hour work period. Rest periods should be scheduled as near as possible to the midpoint of each four hour work period. The County shall provide each Employee working normal business hours with one hour for a meal break between the third and fifth hour of each shift. All rest breaks and lunch breaks shall be arranged by the Employee at the discretion of his/her Supervisor. The standardization of working hours is necessary to provide: a) Continuity in access by and service to the citizenry. b) Facilitation of teamwork. c) Facilitation of Supervisory assistance. Occasions may arise when the service to the citizen can be improved through the adjustment of an Employee's work hours. The Department Manager shall obtain approval of the Division Director for the adjustment in work hours, except for lunch period. Individual requests for adjustment of working hours for personal reasons must be evaluated in light of the effect on the criteria enumerated in items a-c above. Advance notice of anticipated tardiness is expected; notice of unavoidable tardiness is expected when possible. Failure to do so will be construed as an unexcused absence. Notification by another Employee, friend or relative is not considered acceptable except in an emergency situation where the Employee is physically unable to make the notification. Daily attendance records will be maintained by each department including date and time absent and reason for absence. Attendance shall be a consideration in determining promotions, transfers, ---PAGE BREAK--- COLUMBIA COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS APPROVED: July 21, 2009 TOPIC: Hours of Work Policy Number 205.1 POLICY SECTION: Human Resources Page 2 of 2 satisfactory completion of probationary periods and continued employment with the County. Frequent tardiness or other attendance irregularities shall be cause for disciplinary action. This may take the form of progressive discipline, including written warning, suspension and termination. Hours for part-time and certain occupational groups of Employees may vary from the normal office hours noted above due to the nature of their duties and will be determined by the appropriate Department Manager or Department Head.