The Other Side of Voluntary Reduced Workweek
Mar 13, 2008
The Government of Manitoba has recently announced that it is once again encouraging civil servants to take more time off through an expanded Voluntary Reduced Workweek (VRW) program. You should know that this could have a negative impact on you or others within your department.
Despite serious reservations, MGEU has not stood in the way of the VRW program because there was support for it within our membership and because it was voluntary in nature. However, we do believe that VRW days could impact negatively on government departments that already suffer from a lack of staff and resources.
The challenge we face as your union is clear. We have heard repeatedly from our members that workloads and staff shortages continue to be a serious issue that affects the delivery of service you provide to Manitobans. Consider the message it sends to government if an increasing number of government employees feel they can take additional time off throughout the year and not have their work suffer because of it. The fact is the experience of many civil servants who have taken VRW days has been mixed. Many take the days but will also take work home with them so as not to fall behind. Others are inundated with work the moment they return to their jobs.
Consider also that one of the aspects government looks at when budgeting is hours worked within the department. In the event of a budget shortfall, they could use the time you have taken off to justify a reduction in full-time positions within your department. It is important to remember that this government, by its own admission, has aggressively cut business and corporate taxes over the last few years. It could try to make up the resulting revenue shortfall in areas that may be harmful to government employees like you.
As your union, it is our recommendation that you seriously consider whether taking additional time off through the VRW program is advisable. At a time when government should be increasing support and staff hours to the vast majority of departments, we must not allow the Province to implement reductions through the back door, negatively affecting the vital services you provide to Manitobans. We will continue to bring your workload issues to government to ensure that the public services Manitobans depend on are strengthened now and in the future.
Comments
Comments are now closed
Good article and oh so true. I believe that the government itself has admitted that these VRW days are not such a good thing, in their actions of denying days when they are requested or limiting their staff in the number of days they may request. I am a civil servant and in my office we have already been told that we can request 5 days only. I personally do no condone or request a lay off, as these VRW days are in actuality a layoff carried over from the 90's and Filmon Fridays. We must look around at our shortages in SYs and workload and remember that we cannot have it both ways, we cannot ask for positions to be filled and at the same time request more time off. And we must look hard and long at how bringing work home and working overtime (especially if it is not on the record) can be detrimental to our positions and more importantly to our families!
Debbie - 2008-03-14 10:41
I completely agree and understand this issue better. For myself, I requested VRW days because I’m inundated with work and I need the time off to relax, even if it’s just for a day. I thought it would be better to take VRW days, rather than sick time or stress leave. But after reading this article, I’m glad my manager only granted people in my department 2 days off. I just need to find better ways to deal with stress.
Al - 2008-03-19 13:38
If the government reduced my income taxes for a change....that would reduce my stress. Are government employees really that overworked ???? If so, why stay ? Why not get a better job, or start a business or something. If your not happy with your job, leave and find something better. Why spend 1/3 rd of your life at something that stresses you out.
Jimcotton - 2008-03-21 21:38