Animal Welfare Professionals

This message was posted by a user wishing to remain anonymous

We have some really great, high performing senior staff, some that have been with us for going on 10 years.  The only issue is that three out of the four staff have made it clear that they only want to work four days a week.  It's not that they are asking for frivolous reasons, all have child care needs, but it's really hard to run a shelter when we are already struggling every day to cover all the shifts.  Having them work four days instead of five just makes it harder.  I don't want to lose good experienced staff, but something has to give.  Working at home is not an option for these positions. 
Keep in mind, if I give them an ultimatum and they walk out, I am down all my senior staff (including medical staff) and literally half my total staff.  Has anyone had to deal with this type of situation, and how did you handle it?  Has anyone come up with a good compromise?
#PeopleManagement(includingVolunteerIntegration)

Hi There,

We have not had this exact situation occur, but similar in that we now offer our senior staff flex schedules. Most of our senior staff can work from home a day or two a week and all the necessary work can get done. We have several staff with children as well (including myself) and having that flexibility has been nice (and saved some of us working parents). We can work up to 16 hrs a week from home. But we also have been given different work hours (and for a mother of three, it has saved me!). So we can choose Mon -Fri hours now as long as we work our 8 hr day. The hours have to be from 7am-7pm. It has really saved most of us on staff with kids in senior positions. So maybe flex work hours would be something you could offer? Wishing you the very best!

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Erin Ellis
Community Engagement Director
Humane Society of Truckee-Tahoe

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Foster Program & Volunteer Management Specialist
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Anonymous,

 Thank you for this post. I do understand how a four day work week can be difficult to accomodate however I do feel that is it a valid request.  I have had this issue in the past with most of my clinic staff who have other obligations such as school, other jobs, kids ect.   It took me a little bit of time but I maganed to re-do my schedule and  took a poll from the staff.  The staff had the option of working five 8hr days or for 10hr days. That way everyone had the chance to get what they needed schedule wise and there were no issues with other staff feeling like I was playing favorites.  

 I completely understand how you feel because it is very difficult to lose good employees especially ones that have been there for a while. I truly feel like a good family work life balance is the key to retaining good employees in this time where staffing shortages are still happening. 

 I think that offering flexibility is the thing that will be able to help you keep the employees you have. I will be honest  having the flexibility to be able to care for my children and my father in law who is hospitalized has been one of the main reasons I have been able to stay employed as a senior staff member and director of our clinics. 

 I hope this all works out for you all.

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Marissa Reid
Clinic Director
LifeLine Animal Project

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Access To Care Specialist
Clinic Management Specialist
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