Is the 4-day workweek catching on?
Posted
Jul 08 2008, 01:28 PM
by
Karen Datko
Rating:
Lisa Spinelli of Greener Pastures is no stranger to a four-day workweek. She's been doing it off and on for 10 years. She says her 10-hour workdays are more than offset by having that extra day on the weekends.
In a post called "Are we heading toward a 4-day workweek?" she explores how a compressed work schedule is catching on as government and business grapple with higher energy costs.
An Associated Press story explains how 17,000 state employees in Utah are switching to a four-day workweek in August. From the article: "Everyone's going to keep a close eye on it and see what happens in Utah and whether they can demonstrate employee effectiveness and the energy savings, too," said Leslie Scott, executive director of the National Association of State Personnel Executives.
Local governments around the country are also giving the idea a try. For instance, city workers in Birmingham, Ala., moved to the new schedule July 1.
Employees are often the catalyst for a shorter workweek -- and other changes like telecommuting -- in an effort to reduce commuting costs. More employers are paying attention. An article in USA Today describes the trend:
Among businesses, 26% are offering a flexible schedule to help employees with high gas prices, a May survey by the Society for Human Resource Management found. ... Some employers that can manage it are moving to shut down for one day. For one day a week, vehicles used for work can sit idle, or air conditioning can be kept off.
In Utah, many state offices will be closed on Fridays once the new schedule takes effect. Of course, some government functions continue around the clock. Perhaps some creative scheduling could free up even more workers for a longer weekend and one less day of commuting.
Lisa writes about the pros and cons, based on her personal experience. Yes, four 10-hour days can be tough, but "having the extra day off during the week more than compensates for it," she says.
Parents also will have to make adjustments to day care, she writes.
