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UNITED NATIONS OFFICE AT VIENNA / / OFFICE FOR DRUG CONTROL AND CRIME PREVENTION
Division of Administrative and Common Services
Human Resources Management Section / UNOV/INF.166
ODCCP/INF.167
31 October 2002

Information circular*

Flexible working hours

  1. Following a recommendation of the United Nations Office at Vienna/Office on Drugs and Crime Joint Advisory Committee, the Director-General/Executive Director has agreed to the formal introduction of flexible working hours for all groups of staff serving with United Nations Secretariat units and programmes located in Vienna. The rules governing flexible working hours are being promulgated in the UNOV/ODCCP office instruction series.
  2. The regular working day for the United Nations Office at Vienna/Office on Drugs and Crime (formerly called the Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention of the Secretariat) pursuant to staff rule 101.4 remains from 8.30a.m. to 5.30 p.m., from Monday to Friday, with a one-hour break for lunch (a 40-hour workweek). During summer working hours the working day is from 8 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. (a 37.5-hour workweek). The system of flexible working hours will permit staff members, within certain limits, to schedule their working day according to their personal requirements.
  3. Staff members are reminded of the need to make sure that services are covered at all times during the regular working day, including the lunch period, so that queries and telephone calls can be handled and essential services provided without interruption. Because of the nature of shift work, staff will not participate in the system of flexible working hours while working shifts.
  4. Ensuring adherence to the provisions of the system of flexible working hours is the responsibility of programme managers and supervisors. Moreover, managers are responsible for ensuring the productivity of their staff, in particular that extra hours worked, thereby generating flexitime credits, are required for delivery of priority programme mandates. In order to ensure effective monitoring of the system, any requirement for special adjustments due to exigencies of service must be reported to the Human Resources Management Section.
  5. Staff members may wish to take note of the following significant adjustments to the current flexitime system and administrative arrangements:

•Throughout the year the flexible span time will be from 7.30 a.m. to 7.30 p.m. and the core time from 9.30 a.m. to 4 p.m. (3.30 p.m. on Fridays). Consequently, adjustments will no longer need to be made to take into account winter and summer work schedules.

• The use of half- or full-day flexitime credits by staff in the Professional category and above will require prior approval by their programme manager.

• Staff will be required to use the online flexitime form (or other electronic recording device) on a daily basis.

  1. Information circular UN/INF.395 of 22 December 1993 is hereby superseded.