District’s ’40 in Four’ summer work schedule begins May 30

HISD will once again implement the “40 in Four” work schedule for summer 2016 for the central office and participating campuses.

The schedule, which allows employees to work their full 40-hour schedule between Monday and Thursday, will begin on Monday, May 30, and end on Thursday, July 28. The district will return to its regular hours of operation on Monday, Aug. 1. 

As part of the “40 in Four” period, employees must select a summer work schedule, submit it to their supervisor for approval, and maintain it for the entire summer. Either a 30- or 60-minute daily lunch break must be taken, and employees cannot work through lunch in order to leave early.

Please review the following guidelines regarding the “40 in Four” schedule:

• Subject to supervisor approval.
• All employees will be required to submit a summer work schedule to their supervisor. Employees can select either 30 or 60 minutes for lunch. Once a work schedule has been approved, it must remain the same for the entire summer program.
• An employee cannot work through lunch in order to leave early. The entire 30- or 60-minute lunch break must be taken.
• All employees will be required to follow standard sign-in/sign-out and reporting procedures during this time period.
• Non-exempt employees will be required to sign in and out for lunch breaks or follow other standard procedures that departments have in place to monitor and report lunch breaks.
• A 40-hour work week is required of all employees. Employees who do not work 40 hours will use leave time and/or incur a reduction in pay to cover the shortage or be docked. Employees will not be allowed to work from home or telecommute during this program.
• Any absences from work during this time period will be calculated at 10 hours per day.
• Campuses that opt for the “40 in Four” schedule: For attendance and absence reporting during the week of July 4, the observance of Independence Day counts as 10 hours. All employees will be required to account for 30 hours that week. The district will be closed on Monday, July 4, in observance of Independence Day.
• An immediate supervisor will have to approve any variation of an employee’s daily schedule outside of operating hours (7 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Thursday).
• The Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center will be open 7:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Thursday during this period.
• Schools and office locations will have to obtain prior written approval from their chief, if there is a need for any variation of operational hours during this program.
• Supervisors reserve the right to alter work schedules should needs arise that are critical to maintaining operations and meeting departmental goals.
• Disciplinary action will be taken if there was documented evidence of abuse of time/schedules during this program.
• Payroll will be distributed according to the district’s calendar.

If you have any questions regarding the “40 in Four” schedule, please contact Human Resources at 713-556-7373.