Since gas prices soared above $3.50, and sometimes $4 in the Verde Valley, the city of Sedona implemented a new city staff work schedule.

Rather than work five days a week, some city employees now work either four 10-hour days with one day off a week, or nine nine-hour days with one day off every two weeks.

“It was driven by gas prices,” Assistant City Manager Alison Zelms said. Filling up the gas tank is increasingly expensive and many employees commute.

By Trista Steers

Larson Newspapers

Since gas prices soared above $3.50, and sometimes $4 in the Verde Valley, the city of Sedona implemented a new city staff work schedule.

Rather than work five days a week, some city employees now work either four 10-hour days with one day off a week, or nine nine-hour days with one day off every two weeks.

“It was driven by gas prices,” Assistant City Manager Alison Zelms said. Filling up the gas tank is increasingly expensive and many employees commute.

“Most of our employees don’t live in the city,” Zelms said.

City Manager Eric Levitt said the change isn’t only because of rising fuel costs. Four-day work schedules have always been an option, and individual departments approached Levitt in the past regarding the shortened week.

According to Levitt, fuel costs did, however, draw more attention to the issue. Accommodating employees also helps morale and retention.

Alternative transportation is another option for city employees, and Zelms said there is a group who regularly carpools from Cottonwood.

However, the Sedona RoadRunner, the city transit system that carries commuters from Cottonwood to Sedona twice a day, doesn’t work for most city employees, Zelms said. The transit times are limited and don’t work with the 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. schedule.

According to Zelms, the city wouldn’t alter the system simply to serve its employees. If a change were to be made, it would be based on what is based for Sedona’s entire workforce and not just city staff.

The four-day option also isn’t available to everyone.

Zelms said only exempt employees — employees paid a salary rather than by the hour — can take advantage of this new schedule. Hourly employees would end up with overtime, and the city won’t pay overtime for the schedule change.

While all of the city staff may not work every day, the city is still open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Levitt said. Other cities across the country that have adopted the four-day week have also limited availability of services to four days.

Levitt decided that wasn’t the type of service he wanted to offer to the community.

“I felt that sent the wrong signal to citizens and businesses in Sedona,” Levitt said.

Many city departments started working on the adjusted schedules approximately two months ago, but Levitt said they are only allowed to do so if they can continue to funct

In some departments, such as public works, shifting the schedule makes the most sense, according to Levitt. Working 10 hours a day in the summer, when there is more daylight, allows workers to get more done on projects in a given day. In the winter, when the amount of daylight decreases, the workers will go back to five eight-hour days.

Levitt said staff can use the modified schedule in the future as long as it’s working for the department and a reduction in public services doesn’t occur.