Innovative Shifts, Work Periods and Days. [Moved from 5.11 to new 5.4 and renumber paragraphs that follow] The Hospital and the employees mutually recognize the benefit innovative work schedules may have on recruitment and retention of qualified employees. To further encourage the exploration, development, and offering of innovative work schedules, the Hospital and the employees agree to work together to create an environment where employees and managers have an opportunity to consider innovative work schedules, taking into consideration such factors as patient care needs, employee interest, cost impact on operations, turnover and vacancy rates, the use of overtime and employee morale. The innovative work day may be ten (10) or twelve (12) hours. Employees working a ten (10) hour shift will receive two (2) ten (10) minute paid rest breaks and a thirty (30) minute unpaid meal period. Employees working a twelve (12) hour shift will receive three (3) ten (10) minute paid rest breaks, and a thirty (30) minute unpaid meal period. Prior to adding, deleting, or a change in. hours to or from innovative work schedules involving an employee (other than one employee replacing another employee), the Hospital will send a notice of such change to the Union. Upon request, the Hospital will discuss the change in a meeting of employees in the affected unit/department. By mutual agreement between the unit/department manager and the employee, an employee wishing to work twelve (12) hour shifts and who is unable to find a daytime partner may work 11:00 p.m. to 11:00 a.m.; 7:00p.m. to 7:00a.m.; or 3:00p.m. to 3:00 a.m., twelve (12) hour shifts. Innovative shift employees regularly scheduled to work three (3) twelve (12) hour shifts per week shall be compensated for hours worked and will accrue sick pay, holidays and health benefits as if working forty (40) hours per week. Where work schedules other than the eight (8) hour day work schedule are utilized, the Hospital shall have the right to revert back to the eight (8) hour day schedule or the work schedule which was in effect immediately prior to the alternative work schedule after six (6) weeks’ advance notice to employees. Prior to implementation of a change in work schedule involving a unit or facility, the Hospital will meet with the Union to discuss the contemplated change of schedule. Agreements to work innovative work periods and schedules may be utilized with mutual agreement between the Hospital and the employee involved, and shall be put in writing and signe...
