Kinau Hale provides direct service to the public for the registration and issuance of certified copies of vital records. The birth, death and marriage certificates window and registration staff will have expanded hours of 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and marriage license hours will be expanded from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and closed on Fridays. When Kinau Hale is closed, certain services will be handled by staff and private agents on an as-needed basis. Certified copies of birth and marriage certificates can be ordered online at http://www.ehawaiigov.org/ohsm. All other offices within Kinau Hale will operate from 7:15 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and will be closed on Fridays during the pilot project.
The Lingle-Aiona administration launched the pilot program to explore the potential of decreasing expenses, including electricity costs, and reducing traffic congestion. In addition, the shift in state government operating hours could help improve the quality of life for employees by providing an opportunity for them to balance work and family needs.
"We have asked the Department of Health to join the pilot project, so we can better assess how the modified work week will affect service to the public," said Aiona. "Our top priority is to ensure that the state maintains the same level of service to the public."
"As public stewards of taxpayer money, we want to evaluate whether a compressed work week would be in the best interests of our citizens and our state," Aiona added. "Our administration is constantly looking for innovative, outside-the-box solutions to improve government service and increase the quality of life for our residents."
Now in the 10th week of the pilot project, DHRD Director Marie Laderta reports positive reaction from the public and the employees.
"This is the 10th week of our pilot and recent internal surveys indicate most employees have adjusted well to the revised schedule; overall morale is high, and job applicants have told us they are glad to have the additional hours to do business with DHRD," said Laderta.
DOH was asked to participate in the pilot project because its participation would:
- More than double the number of employees participating in the project and, as a result, would allow for collection of more meaningful data and better decision-making at the close of the pilot project
- Permit more accurate measurement of energy savings
- Allow better assessment of the popularity of the 4/10 workweek with unionized employees (all DHRD employees are excluded from union representation)
- Allow better assessment of the general public's reaction to the program (the bulk of DHRD's services are provided to other state departments, with a limited general public component).
The state will monitor the impact to DOH's services as well as reduced energy use and other possible savings and benefits during the eight-week pilot period, including employee commute times. DOH will also evaluate the impact to employee productivity and morale, including quality of life issues.
Public feedback on the pilot program will be an important component in the evaluation process and determining what changes might be needed before expanding the program to other departments. Comments may be sent to the Governor's Office at governor.lingle@hawaii.gov.
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