September 5, 2024

The Town of Canton is pleased to announce the commencement of a 4-month pilot program aimed at enhancing services for our residents while adopting a 4-day work week schedule for our dedicated staff. Beginning on Monday, September 16, 2024, the Canton Town Hall & Senior & Social Services Department will be adjusting their hours of operation to provide extended accessibility to the community.

The revised hours of operation for Town Hall will be as follows:

• Monday & Tuesday: 8:00 am to 5:00 pm
• Wednesday: 8:00 am to 6:00 pm
• Thursday: 8:00 am to 5:00 pm
• Friday: Closed

The Senior & Social Services Department will be offering the following hours:

• Monday to Thursday: 7:30 am to 4:15 pm
• Friday: Closed

This pilot program has been designed with two key objectives in mind. First and foremost, it aims to provide our residents with extended hours of operation, ensuring ample opportunities to access and benefit from the diverse range of services offered by the town.

Additionally, the adoption of a 4-day work week is a significant step toward innovative work practices in response to the evolving needs of our workforce. The 4-day work week is widely recognized for its popularity nationwide and is considered a pivotal factor in remaining competitive in today’s hiring environment. In Connecticut, towns, such as Plainville, Vernon and Mansfield, have also successfully implemented similar schedules. While many private companies and government entities, such as the State of Connecticut, have successfully implemented hybrid work environments, we recognized that this approach might not suit Canton's unique circumstances due to the size of our staff and the importance of remaining accessible to the community.

First Selectman Kevin Witkos has said: “Canton is moving forward with this pilot to offer more access to its town residents and visitors through expanded hours during the work period of Monday through Thursday.  Many of the reasons residents visit town hall can be accomplished electronically as we have seen a decline in foot traffic throughout the years.  Additionally, the four-day work week for town staff recognizes the proper work-life balance that we believe will have a positive effect on our talented hard-working staff and enable them to better serve the community Monday -Thursday. Lastly, with town buildings being closed on Friday, there will be a cost savings to all residents.

During the 4-month trial period, Town Administration will gather feedback from the community and employees to assess the impact of the extended hours and the 4-day work week. Feel free to email thoughts on the pilot program to  4dayworkweek@townofcantonct.org. For further information and updates about the pilot program and change in hours of operation, please visit the Town of Canton website at www.townofcantonct.org. The community is also reminded that the Town website is a valuable resource that offers access to numerous online services and frequently asked questions.