At Klausing Group, we’ve always aimed to set a higher standard. One area were we’ve led is in implementing safety policies designed to protect our team members. When OSHA recently proposed new heat safety guidelines for workplaces, we were proud to realize that some of the policies we’ve had in place for years already exceeded OSHA’s proposed regulations.
But simply meeting standards isn’t enough for us. We believe in “responsibility beyond obligation.” As a Public Benefit Corporation (PBC), we are committed to continuously evaluating our practices—not only to safeguard our employees but also to benefit our clients, communities, and all stakeholders. Even though our heat safety measures were already robust, we saw an opportunity to take another step forward.
That’s when we identified a way to further protect our team by making a significant change to our scheduling policy.
From 4-Day to 5-Day Workweeks: The Shift
For many years, our production team worked a 4-day schedule, with Fridays held as a buffer for weather disruptions. While this setup offered flexibility and longer weekends, it also came with challenges—especially during Kentucky’s hot summer months. Longer workdays meant that much of the work was done during the hottest part of the day, increasing our team’s exposure to extreme heat.
After a thorough review and discussions, we decided to transition to a 5-day workweek. This decision was driven by our commitment to employee safety, improving work-life balance, and delivering more consistent service to our clients.
Here’s why we made the change:
Prioritizing Employee Well-Being
Our team’s safety has always been our top priority. Kentucky’s hot and humid summers can make long workdays dangerous, elevating the risk of heat-related injuries. Switching to a 5-day schedule allows us to reduce the number of hours our team is exposed to high temperatures each day, leading to a healthier and more sustainable workload. Shorter workdays during the hottest months will help keep our team safe and reduce fatigue.
Providing Better Service for Our Clients
Weather disruptions have always been a challenge with the 4-day schedule. Rain or other interruptions often pushed work into Fridays, leading to inconsistent service delivery. By moving to a 5-day schedule, we’ll have more flexibility to manage weather-related delays and ensure smoother, more reliable service for our clients.
Boosting Productivity and Retention
We also expect shorter workdays to boost productivity. Long, hot days can drain even the most dedicated and seasoned employees, leading to decreased efficiency. By working shorter shifts, particularly during the summer, we anticipate higher energy levels and better overall performance. This new schedule is also more attractive to new employees, making it easier for them to adapt and succeed, which supports long-term retention.
Enhancing Coordination Across Teams
A 5-day schedule will improve alignment between our field teams and administrative staff, who already work Monday through Friday. This change will enhance communication and collaboration across the company, helping us streamline operations and deliver even better service to our clients.
Continuing Our Commitment to Heat Safety
Even with the new schedule, we’ll continue to follow our industry-leading heat index policy, which guides us in protecting employees from heat-related risks. We monitor temperature and humidity levels using the OSHA/NIOSH Heat Index App, and based on these readings, we implement protective measures such as mandatory breaks, early dismissals, or even stopping work when conditions become too dangerous.
Looking Ahead
The shift to a 5-day schedule, alongside our continued focus on heat safety, reflects our dedication to improving both the quality of life for our team and the quality of service for our clients.
This change exemplifies how we’re always striving to improve—not just because it’s good business, but because it’s the right thing to do.