Rylund Johnson
Statements in Debates
Debates of
, 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 108)
Yeah, thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate that and, you know, I get that certain positions perhaps need the oneoff policy, but I think we could really be a leader here and we could find positions and pilot a fourday workweek. Perhaps it's a it's a summer Fridays model, which is becoming more common. And then I think we would need to do it as a pilot project and evaluate things such as, you know, were less sick days taken; was there a decline in productivity. I know many workplaces have actually found that it would increase in productivity when shifting to a fourday workweek. So I think we...
Debates of
, 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 108)
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The debate for shorter workweeks is not a new one. In 1926, Henry Ford brought in the fiveday workweek, and it wasn't until 1960 that Canadian formally adopted a 40hour workweek. And Mr. Speaker, I believe it is time that the NWT be a leader in introducing the fourday workweek.
The pandemic has brought the debate of the fourday workweek back into light as workplaces seek to find a better worklife balance and, as we all know, many workplaces have struggled with recruitment and retention. The GNWT is not alone in that.
Mr. Speaker, numerous municipalities, including...
Debates of
, 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 108)
No further questions, Mr. Chair. I'll just note that the Standing Committee on Reconciliation and Indigenous Affairs plans to table our interim report in the coming days so I expect we'll have much more conversation following it. Thank you.
Debates of
, 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 108)
Thank you, Mr. Chair. One of the goals here was that the GNWT was going to publish its principles and interests. You know, we're really supposed to have done that spring 2021; it's now spring 2022 and we haven't. But I see here that in the coming months it's supposed to be published. Does the Premier have an update of when those principles and interests will be published. Thank you.
Debates of
, 19th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 108)
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to start just by commending the GNWT for some of the creative options it already has such as deferred leave where a worker can take a reduced pay cut for a number of years and then have a year off with leave without pay, or options such as flex days where workers can increase their working hours in a day to get an additional day off. All of which are great programs that cost the GNWT no money but help with retention.
However, Mr. Speaker, I believe we need to go further and try and formalize some policy around a fourday workweek. I have talked to workers who...