Case Western Reserve University staff began this week with Monday as a holiday. On Friday they’ll end it by being able to leave work two hours early.
CWRU Take Two—the university program that gives staff two hours of paid leave on summer Fridays—commences June 2 and runs through July 28 this year, giving staff a total of 18 additional compensated hours off in 2017. As happened with last year’s calendar, the 2017 program includes nine Fridays instead of 2015’s eight. Specifically, the dates involved are: June 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30, as well as July 7, 14, 21, and 28.
This year marks the third consecutive time the university has offered the program. President Barbara R. Snyder began the program as a pilot in 2015, and agreed to continue it annually after post-summer surveys found that 95 percent of staff and 78 percent of supervisors said they wanted the program to continue. Survey comments the previous year inspired the program in the first place; given that financial constraints had limited the sizes of annual raise pools, participants recommended that the university find additional ways to show appreciation for employees.
“We continue to receive many positive comments about this initiative,” Vice President for Human Resources Carolyn Gregory said. “Not only does it give staff a bit more time off, but it also shows that their voices can carry significant influence.”
To keep the program viable, CWRU Take Two does come with some caveats. In the majority of instances, employees are able to depart their offices at 3 p.m. on Fridays. In some cases, however, the university’s ongoing operating obligations—for example, safety and maintenance—require alternative arrangements. Similar considerations affect all offices or units that engage with people outside their office or unit—either within the university or beyond it—which must continue staffing until 5 p.m. on all weekdays, including Fridays.
When it is not feasible for staff members to leave at 3 p.m. on Fridays, supervisors are expected to engage with employees to schedule for equivalent paid time off in other ways. One solution often used has employees rotating among them as to the staff person who stays until 5 on Fridays; the employee who works a full day on Friday is can take the two hours at another agreed-upon time during the week.
In other cases, supervisors may allow employees to group their hours into a half- or full-day. Those with questions should contact the Office of Human Resources’ Service Center at 216.368.6964.