Ela Twp. trims overtime for workers

Ela Township employees will have two fewer official holidays in 2011 as the township board reduced the number from 12 to 10 in order to cut down on overtime.

Columbus Day and New Year's Eve will no longer be paid holidays, and instead will be regular workdays, said Lucy Prouty, township supervisor.

In their place, employees will get two “floating days” they can use anytime during the year.

“We haven't heard any complaints because they didn't actually lose anything,” Prouty said.

Prouty said the township office doesn't close on Columbus Day and New Year's Eve, and employees that worked those days earned overtime. Columbus Day in particular falls during a busy time for the township, she said.

“With the economy and everything right now, we're trying to cut down on overtime,” she said.

She added that while department heads will have to approve the floaters, employees will not have to give a reason.

Ela Township has 18 full-time employees.