Reduced Work Schedule Arrangement
A reduced work schedule arrangement involves a written agreement to lower your weekly number of hours and sets the days and times you agree to work each week. Having a standard schedule is key to making a reduced work schedule work smoothly for you, your team, and thoughtbot.
thoughtbot supports employees’ desire for Reduced Work Schedules.
Once an agreement is reached, you and your Director will be sent a Reduced Work Schedule Arrangement Agreement for signature listing out specifics including:
- Hours per week
- Schedule (days of the week and hours of the day that you will be working) All employees may request a Reduced Work Schedule Arrangement. Local laws may impact thoughtbot’s ability to provide a Reduced Work Schedule Arrangement and impact your benefits.
Impact of a Reduced Work Schedule Arrangement on Salary
Salary
When you move to a reduced work schedule, your effective hourly rate remains the same. Your salary is reduced proportionately to your reduction in hours worked.
If you were hired to work 40 hours per week and you reduce your hours to 32 hours per week, that is a 20% reduction. Your salary would be reduced by 20%.
Impact of a Reduced Work Schedule Arrangement on Benefits for US Employees
Medical, dental and vision coverage
The minimum number of hours to be on medical and dental insurance and vision coverage is 30 hrs/wk.
Vacation Time and Sick Time
Your time is reduced proportionately to your reduction in hours worked.
Someone who was hired to work 40 hours per week and moves to a 32 hour per week schedule would accumulate 20% less time off when when they begin their reduced schedule.
Holidays
You would receive holidays that fall on your regularly-scheduled work days.
401(k)
There is no minimum number of hours required to participate in the 401(k). You are eligible to participate after you have worked at thoughtbot for 90 days.
Investment Time
Investment time is reduced proportionately to your reduction in hours worked.
Parental Leave
You receive 6 weeks of paid leave from thoughtbot per the company policy. In states with their own system, thoughtbot tops off the payments from the state so that you receive 100% of your pay for the equivalent of 6 weeks at your scheduled number of hours.
Example: If you work 30 hours per week in a state with no paid family leave, then you receive 180 hours paid parental leave from thoughtbot per company policy.
Jury Duty and Bereavement Leave
Your paid time off is reduced proportionately to your reduction in hours worked. For both of these, you receive 1 week of paid time off. If you work 30 hr/wk, then you receive up to 30 hours of paid time off.
Any additional questions related to benefits while on a Reduced Work Schedule can be sent to benefits@thoughtbot.com.