Compensatory Leave for Substitute Workers and Early Friday Dismissal System Expanded
Support Strengthened for Pregnant and Childcare Employees... Enhanced Work-Family Balance Initiatives
Incheon City will grant up to five days of special leave to public officials who are pregnant, and will also provide compensatory leave to employees who fill in for colleagues on leave due to childcare or other family responsibilities.
On July 3, the city announced that it will officially implement the "Family-Friendly i:Hyuu (Ai:Hyuu) Work System" starting this month, aiming to create a flexible work environment that supports work-family balance. This employee-friendly system is designed to reduce the burdens associated with childbirth and childcare and to help employees achieve work-life balance. It was introduced to invigorate the organization and boost the morale of public officials.
First, the city will implement the "Four-Day Workweek for Pregnant and Childcare Employees." This system combines the existing flexible work arrangements with special leave such as maternity protection time and childcare time, allowing employees who are pregnant or caring for children to choose one day per week for either leave or telecommuting. Through this, the city expects to reduce the burdens associated with childbirth and childcare.
Additionally, the city will introduce a new special leave called "Child Love Time" to address gaps in childcare. This special leave allows employees with children aged 9 to 12, or those in grades 3 to 6 of elementary school, to take one hour off per day. This will be implemented by amending the "Incheon City Public Officials Service Ordinance." While the existing childcare time was only available for children up to the second grade (8 years old or younger), the new policy extends support for childcare until elementary school graduation (12 years old or younger).
Yoo Jungbok, Mayor of Incheon, is giving a special lecture on policies to strengthen support for work-family balance at the "3rd Anniversary Commemorative Policy Empathy Employee Communication Day" held at Incheon Global Campus on the 3rd. Incheon City
Employees who continue to work responsibly during pregnancy will be granted up to five days of special leave during the 10-month pregnancy period to support their health and ensure a stable childbirth. This measure aims to reduce the physical and emotional burdens on pregnant employees and to create a more stable work environment.
When another employee fills in for a colleague who is using childcare time or maternity protection time, they will be granted "Substitute Special Leave" as compensation. For every 40 hours of accumulated substitute work, one day of special leave will be given, up to a maximum of five days per year.
In addition, the city will implement a "4.5-Day Workweek with Rest," allowing employees to leave work at 1 p.m. on Fridays for self-development and recharging. While maintaining the basic 40-hour workweek over five days, this system applies to those who work an additional hour beyond regular hours from Monday to Thursday. Up to 30% of employees in each department can use this system on a rotating basis to minimize work disruptions.
The city plans to analyze the results of the family-friendly work system and develop improvement measures. Starting next year, the system will be reflected in departmental evaluations, and the evaluation scores will be significantly increased to enhance the effectiveness of the policy and encourage its adoption.
At the "Policy Empathy Employee Communication Day" event commemorating the third anniversary of the 8th popularly elected administration, Mayor Yoo Jungbok stated, "The family-friendly work system will be more than just a welfare policy; it will be the starting point for establishing a work-life balance culture throughout the public sector. The organization will share the burdens of pregnancy and childcare, and we will spare no effort to support the creation of a work environment in which employees can be satisfied both at work and in life."
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