Campus leaders announced an upcoming change to adopt a consistent 40-hour workweek. Employees affected by this change were sent the following e-mail message from the senior leadership within their division or college:
“Effective Sept. 29, all University of Alabama employees on the 38.75-hour work schedule will transition to a standard 40-hour workweek. Currently our campus operates with two different schedules — half of campus working 7.75 hours a day, and the other half working a standard 8-hour day. Standardizing the workweek to 40 hours will improve operating efficiency and consistency across all areas of campus.
The change will result in standard office hours, providing our community with more consistent access to offices and services. In general, the work hours for all offices, colleges and divisions will be Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (unless alternate or evening scheduling is required).
This change brings UA’s workweek in line with the standard work hours defined by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the foundation for U.S. labor laws. It’s critical for our eventual transition to a new Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system to manage and integrate the University’s core business processes. It also aligns UA with other institutions in the UA System, as well as peers across the Southeastern Conference.
Beginning today, any new employees hired in our division will start on the 40-hour workweek.
Pay rates will not be affected by this change. Non-exempt employees will continue to be paid based on the number of hours worked each week. When the 40-hour workweek takes effect, the amount of leave hours accrued each month will increase to reflect the 8-hour workday.
I know this change may affect some more than others. This is a campus-wide transition, so many others will be adjusting their work hours as well. Finance & Operations and Student Life already made the transition in recent years.
We are sending this information to you now so you can begin making any necessary arrangements to align with your new work schedule. UA has a flexible work arrangements policy. If you need to request any adjustments in your schedule to align with the 40-hour workweek, please talk with your direct supervisor about whether a flexible work arrangement is possible.”
Below are some frequently asked questions intended to help support employees during this scheduling change:
Q1. What is the change to the workweek?
A. Effective Monday, Sept. 29, all University of Alabama full-time employees will transition to a standard 40-hour weekly schedule. The proration for part-time employees will now be based on the 40-hour schedule.
Q2. Who is affected by this change?
A. All non-exempt (hourly-paid) and exempt (salaried) employees currently on the 38.75 workweek (7.75 hours per day) will be affected by this transition.
Q3. Why is this change happening?
A. It aligns everyone under one schedule, improves consistency, ensures access to the University’s offices and services during standard 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. office hours, and simplifies payroll and other administrative processes.
Q4. What will the standard workday look like?
A. In general, the hours of work for colleges, schools and divisions not required to operate during the evening will be 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., except for those units where operational and student services necessitate alternate schedules.
Q5. How much will I work per day?
A. 15 additional minutes each weekday (for those moving from 38.75 to 40 hours).
Q6. Will my pay change?
A. No. Pay rates will not change. Hourly (non-exempt) employees will be paid for the additional time worked. Salaried (exempt) employees' pay will not change, as their compensation is not based on hourly input.
Q7. Will I be required to stay later?
A. Not necessarily. Managers may approve alternative start/end times or other flexible arrangements if needed. Supervisors may use the University's Flexible Work Arrangements Policy to accommodate flexible work schedules within the 40-hour workweek. Several factors, including operational needs and feasibility, will be considered when evaluating requests for flexible work schedules.
Q8. When does this change start?
A. Monday, Sept. 29, 2025.
Q9. Why are we planning this change now?
A. We want to align all employees on a standard schedule for fairness, improved coordination, and operational simplicity. It also ensures we're better prepared for changes to federal labor laws by aligning with the 40-hour workweek definition under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA salary thresholds). It’s also critical for our eventual transition to a new Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system to manage and integrate the University’s core business processes. We’re announcing it now to allow everyone to plan accordingly.
Q10. What if I can't extend my workday?
A. Division leaders can offer flexible schedules, such as earlier start times or compressed workweeks, if it meets business needs. Supervisors may refer to the University's Flexible Work Arrangements Policy for additional information.
Q11. How will existing flexible work schedules be affected?
A. Only employees affected by this change who have an approved flexible work schedule agreement will need to take action. Employees who have an approved flexible schedule through the Flexible Work Arrangement Policy should speak with their supervisors to request an updated agreement based on the 40-hour workweek.
Q12. Isn't this just a way to get more work without more pay?
A. Not at all. Hourly staff will be paid for any additional time, and salaried roles remain compensated based on responsibilities and exempt status, not hourly work. We are doing this for fairness, efficiency, and consistency across campus.
Q13. How does this affect my job duties?
A. Your job duties remain the same. This is only about aligning the work schedule.
Q14. Will new employees starting on or after July 9 and before Sept. 29 be on the 8.00-hour workday?
A. Yes, new employees hired on or after July 9 will be scheduled to work 8.00 hours per day, 40-hours per workweek effective immediately. Hiring departments will be expected to notify new hires of the 8-hour per day work schedule. Part-time employees will be prorated based on the 40-hour schedule.