Seychelles Postal Services leads the way in staggered working hours |20 May 2025
Seychelles Postal Services leads the way in staggered working hours
The Seychelles government officially launched a pilot programme introducing staggered working hours across the public service, effective May 1, 2025.
The new initiative, approved by Cabinet on March 5, aims to modernise workplace practices, reduce traffic congestion, better align with school and childcare routines, and improve public service delivery. Under the new system, public servants can choose to start work at 7am, 8am, or 9am, as long as they are present during the compulsory core hours of 9am to 3pm. All employees are still expected to complete seven working hours a day, not including lunch breaks.
One public organisation that was ahead of the curve is the Seychelles Postal Services (SPS), which began implementing its own flexible working hours programme in late 2023 – months before the Cabinet decision.
According to SPS marketing and communication manager, Meryl Esparon, the change came in response to staff needs, particularly those with young children. “A number of our staff who have children to drop off to school were complaining that it is challenging to drop children off, and make it to work on time with the heavy traffic congestion. So, we decided to try it out. Staff approach their manager, based on the nature of their specific jobs, for a conversation to put them on the flexible working hours programme,” Mrs Esparon explained.
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