SHESHEGWANING—Sheshegwaning First Nation has taken a proactive step to help create a healthier work-life balance for staff and is piloting a four-day work week.
“The intent of the pilot project is to promote employee mental, emotional, physical and spiritual wellbeing,” Sheshegwaning Chief Alana Endanawas told The Expositor. “Studies have shown that a four day-work week increases life and job satisfaction while decreasing stress and burnout.”
“We are investing in our employee’s holistic health so that they are in a good place to provide services to our community,” said Chief Endanawas. “This pilot is modelled after a global pilot with a theme of 100 percent play, scheduled 80 percent of the time, in exchange for 100 percent productivity.”
“We are doing this for the well being of our staff employees,” said Chief Endanawas. She explained council, “has been talking about this initiative for over a year, and we decided to go ahead with a pilot project.”
Chief Endanawas said the pilot four-day work week will begin the week of July 3 and end October 2023 with office hours from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. The band office will be closed Fridays. Currently the office is open five days a week but closed at 1 pm on Friday.
Chief Endanawas pointed out surveys had been sent out to staff members. “It will be interesting to how this will be evaluated when the pilot project is completed. The success of this pilot will be evaluated and its continuation will be determined by the results of this evaluation. We want to ensure our community that they will see minimal changes to program delivery and services,” she said. “We would like to express our gratitude to our community for your understanding and patience during this pilot project as our employee’s holistic wellbeing is very important to our organization.”
