Two-hours of paid time off for ASG employees participating in Flag Day league sports

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Gov. Lemanu Peleti Mauga has authorized two-hours of paid time off for ASG employees participating in Flag Day league sports if the games are held during the employees work hours.

Flag Day league sports — such as the annual cricket tournament, for both men and women’s divisions — is organized by the Office of Samoan Affairs, which also oversees the Flag Day Fautasi Race.

“To promote healthy living and wellness activities in our Territory,” the governor announced in a Feb. 1st memorandum that he is authorizing “ASG employees participating in Flag Day sports to be allowed two hours of paid time if the games are scheduled during the employees’ shift.”

According to the governor’s memo, addressed to cabinet members, all employees planning  to take advantage of this opportunity should make arrangements with their immediate supervisor as soon as possible. And team rosters will be verified through the Office of Samoan Affairs.

All other ASG employees, according to the governor, “are highly encouraged to continue with the ASG Wellness Hour” initiative that was implemented through a memo last year.

In that memo, issued in January 2021 — days after the Lemanu-Talauega Administration took office — the governor announced the initiative, saying that a “healthy workforce is a productive workforce”.

The governor also authorized all ASG employees to implement a “Wellness Hour” every Tuesday and Thursday. Cabinet members were to develop an in-house schedule to avoid disruption of government services.

In the Governor’s State of the Territory Comprehensive Report — distributed to lawmakers last month — the Department and Youth and Women’s Affairs (DYWA) reported a rise in the number of participants last year in this initiative.

It says that flexible hours and added workout programs to the Governor’s Health & Wellness Initiative has shown an increase of 35% of participants since last quarter of 2021.

“A growth in family members participating in the evening exercise programs plays a huge part in the increase of involvement,” the report said, and explained that DYWA has extended the Health & Wellness initiative time beyond the 3 pm – 4pm to allow staff members and others a flexible schedule to workout.

Exercise programs for DYWA Pago Pago are basketball, volleyball, ping pong and access to the weight room is from 2 pm – 6 pm Tuesdays and Thursdays.

For DYWA Tafuna Youth Center, exercise programs are for Pickleball, badminton, ping pong and walking from 12 noon – 8 pm, Tuesdays and Thursdays, according to the report.