The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Provincial employees will again have the option of taking up to 15 days off without pay this year under the Voluntary Reduced Workweek Program, Greg Selinger, minister responsible for the civil service, has announced. "The Voluntary Reduced Workweek Program was introduced as a pilot project in 2002 and it is clear that employees like having the option of taking additional time off without pay to attend to family and other matters," said Selinger. "We are pleased to be able to offer the program again this year." Selinger noted that nearly 2,200 employees or 15 per cent of the workforce took advantage of the program in 2004-05 which reduced costs by an estimated $2.4 million. In 2003-04, over 2,100 employees participated in the program, reducing costs by $2.8 million, while in 2002-03 nearly 2,000 employees took time off, saving $2.2 million. Employees must submit their leave requests by April 13. Under the Voluntary Reduced Workweek Program, no employee will be required to take time off. Rather, departments will consider leave requests from employees in the context of operational requirements and staffing levels. Pay deductions for approved leaves will be spread over 23 pay periods from May 27, 2005, to March 31, 2006, to minimize the financial impact on employees.
