New Pilot Program in Brooklyn Returns Caretakers to Traditional Work Schedules

Under a new NYCHA pilot program, caretakers who sweep, mop, and clear garbage at six Brooklyn developments will be restored to traditional work schedules, helping to ensure that residents’ buildings are cleaned regularly and maintained throughout the week.  

Caretakers will no longer be assigned Alternative Work Schedules (AWS) and will go back to being responsible for cleaning specific buildings each workday.  

This pilot responds to concerns from both residents and employees about the AWS program and how it utilizes the caretaker workforce. Under the AWS system, caretakers are assigned specific tasks and placed on one of five different shifts, some during non-traditional hours. The pilot seeks to ensure that caretakers can work more effectively and get the support they need from supervisors to be as productive as possible.  

“We recognize that there are significant challenges we have encountered upon introducing AWS, and with this pilot we’re taking that feedback seriously and changing what we’re doing in response,” said Kyle Slugg, Associate of Strategic Planning at NYCHA. “We’re trying to see how efficiently we can operate with our current resources so we will know where we need to devote more resources to make the most difference on building cleanliness for residents.”  

The new pilot program launched at Breukelen Houses on August 16. In the coming months, it will take effect at five other Brooklyn developments, including Wyckoff Gardens, Atlantic Terminal Site 4B, Sumner Houses, 303 Vernon Avenue, and Bedford-Stuyvesant Rehabs.  

As part of the pilot’s revised scheduling, supervisors’ shifts will be changed so that more than one supervisor is on-site as often as possible, and most caretaker staff will be on-site at least five days per week (on a traditional work schedule of 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.). Buildings will continue to be cleaned and maintained seven days a week, and the caretakers will have their work inspected regularly, helping to increase accountability.  

Under the existing AWS program, caretakers can work 10-hour shifts, four days per week – but they might not always work the same days. With the new pilot, caretakers will clean the same buildings every weekday and will get to know the needs of that particular location.   

“We are increasing the total number of hours that caretakers are on-site during the week under this pilot and scheduling caretakers on a more consistent basis, so that residents know when to expect their buildings are being cleaned,” Mr. Slugg said. “Our hope and expectation is that over the course of this pilot period, residents are going to see their developments become noticeably cleaner.”  

Nathalie Montas-Pitts, Strategic Planning Coordinator in NYCHA’s Resident Engagement Department, said the revised AWS pilot is a “great step” towards addressing residents’ concerns about the cleanliness of their developments.  

“After receiving feedback that the current system was not working as well as it could, the residents and staff have spoken, and NYCHA is listening,” she said. “With continuous resident engagement throughout the pilot, we can make adjustments as needed, until we see improvement.”   

In planning for the new pilot rollout, NYCHA’s Strategic Planning Department met with property managers as well as resident association leaders for each of the developments, who have expressed excitement at the prospect of having more regular cleaning schedules at their buildings, Mr. Slugg noted. Angel King, Resident Association President at Breukelen Houses, called the revised scheduling pilot a “blessing” and necessary, as it will help ensure that cleaning services are performed throughout the day.  

“I think it will make the residents feel like the development will be cleaner, with more attention shown to it,” Ms. King said. “This change is really going to be beneficial.”  

Breukelen residents are pleased that NYCHA has listened to their concerns, Ms. King said.  

“It shows that the residents’ opinions are actually being addressed,” she added. 

As the pilot program rolls out at Breukelen Houses and the other five developments in the coming months, NYCHA will engage with residents through surveys and focus groups to get input on how the scheduling changes are improving building cleanliness. 

“We want to get as much feedback as possible so that we can make this an effective learning process,” Mr. Slugg said.  

For questions about the AWS pilot, or to participate in a focus group, email Revised.AWS@nycha.nyc.gov.