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Most state workers in Utah shifting to 4-day
By Larry Copeland, USA TODAY
Utah this summer will become what experts say is the first state to institute a mandatory four-day work week for most state employees, joining local governments across the nation that are altering schedules to save money, energy and resources.
Gov. Jon Huntsman, a first-term Republican, says he's making the change to reduce the state's carbon footprint, increase energy efficiency, improve customer service and provide workers more flexibility.
"The reaction (from the public) has been very much a willingness to give this a go," he says.
The change will apply to about 17,000 employees, roughly 80% of the state workforce, Huntsman says. Public universities, the state court system, prisons and other critical services will be exempt. Residents still will have sufficient access to state offices, many staying open from 7 a.m.- 6 p.m., and more than 800 state services are available online, he says.
Leslie Scott, executive director of the National Association of State Personnel Directors, says Huntsman's action is a first. "Most states have a four-day work week option for their employees, but Utah is the first to go to a mandatory four-day work week," she says. "A good number of the states are encouraging their agencies and managers to offer a four-day work week whenever possible."
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The four-day work week is fairly common among city and county governments. Rex Facer, an assistant professor at Brigham Young University whose research team is studying the four-day work week concept, estimates that about one-sixth of U.S. cities with populations above 25,000 offer employees a four-day work week. His projection is based on the team's continuing survey of 150 city human resource directors.
Facer expects more cities to begin shuttering offices on Fridays. "The increasing pressures the American is facing around gas prices is certainly a significant factor, and the overall fiscal pressures governments are facing in general," he says.
Jacqueline Byers, director of research at the National Association of Counties, says the four-day work week is gaining in popularity among county governments. Marion County, Fla., has a mandatory four-day work week for employees; Oconee County, S.C., and Walworth County, Wis., have it for road work crews, while Will County, Ill., has it for the auditor's office. Oakland County, Mich., is seeking volunteers for a four-day work week, and Miami-Dade County, Fla., and Suffolk County, N.Y., are moving toward it, she says.
"They like it for a couple of reasons," says Byers. "They're not able to give raises, so this is like a bonus, to cut off one day's commute. Also, if they can close a whole department (for a day), they save money for the county."
It takes some adjusting. "One thing that has to be changed is the level of expectation from taxpayers, because they've always wanted five-day access," Byers says. "They have to adjust to offices that are open longer on weekdays, but closed on Fridays."
Cities offering employees condensed work weeks include Coconut Creek, Fla., Birmingham, Ala., and Avondale, Ariz., according to the National League of Cities.
In Utah, the new schedule starts Aug. 4. In the meantime, Huntsman says, the state is moving to iron out problems for employees with child-care concerns and those using public transportation that currently would not accommodate a longer workday.
Huntsman says the change will help Utah reach its goal of reducing energy use 20% by 2015.
Beyond the energy and financial implications, the four-day work week is a quality-of-life issue for many. Huntsman says it is especially popular among younger employees and that his action will make Utah more competitive in luring talent.
Facer agrees that an improved "work-life balance" often results from a shorter work week.
"More and more young workers are entering the work force," Facer says. "They're looking for ways to enhance their work-life balance. Alternative work schedules offer more of this work-life balance than do traditional work schedules."
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The next step is telecommuting. My mother is a programmer for the City of Phoenix. There's not a single reason she needs an office or even a building. It would be way cheaper to give her a laptop and $65 a mo. to pay for Internet service and supplement the electric bill.
The next step is telecommuting. My mother is a programmer for the City of Phoenix. There's not a single reason she needs an office or even a building. It would be way cheaper to give her a laptop and $65 a mo. to pay for Internet service and supplement the electric bill.
Me too. I get to write off my equipment and the office I built in our backyard next year. Woohoo! I don't have to pay $60 a week in gas or $10 a day parking. Plus, with the savings they have for my not being there using resources, I was able to negotiate a higher salary. Telecommuting rules!
My building right now is devoid of power. 5 story building, dark.
Well, that is except for the area that I am working on the 3rd floor. They brought in generators so I get to continue working. The rest of the company "gets" to work from home. Ugh.
4 day work weeks rule. 5 day work weeks are for the birds.
Totally agree...the drop off in productivity if you switch to a 36 hour or even a 32 hour work week is minimal for most jobs. Workers just get better at focusing on what is important and priortize their work better.
Totally agree...the drop off in productivity if you switch to a 36 hour or even a 32 hour work week is minimal for most jobs. Workers just get better at focusing on what is important and priortize their work better.
They are going to 4 - 10 hr days, so the hours of nonproductivity are the same.
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Me too. I get to write off my equipment and the office I built in our backyard next year. Woohoo! I don't have to pay $60 a week in gas or $10 a day parking. Plus, with the savings they have for my not being there using resources, I was able to negotiate a higher salary. Telecommuting rules!
Totally agree...the drop off in productivity if you switch to a 36 hour or even a 32 hour work week is minimal for most jobs. Workers just get better at focusing on what is important and priortize their work better.
Quote:
Originally Posted by KloD
They are going to 4 - 10 hr days, so the hours of nonproductivity are the same.
Working 4 days instead of 5 does have it's benefits for the employer. Four lunch hours instead of 5. Same for coffee breaks. Because of the extra day off over the weekend, workers come in refreshed and ready to go back to work. It doesn't take long to get into working a 10 hour day from an 8 hour day.
We've found that 4 - 10's actually result in better production than 5 - 8's. In a situation where we have to man the job-site 5 days a week, we will either split the crew or have one individual work on the off day (Friday) and then take Monday off, so he gets a 3 day weekend also.I am a great proponent of this system.
I think the future is going to be more people like KloD being able to work from home. It will conserve resources and in the long run, help our economy and increase production.
Working 4 days instead of 5 does have it's benefits for the employer. Four lunch hours instead of 5. Same for coffee breaks. Because of the extra day off over the weekend, workers come in refreshed and ready to go back to work. It doesn't take long to get into working a 10 hour day from an 8 hour day.
We've found that 4 - 10's actually result in better production than 5 - 8's. In a situation where we have to man the job-site 5 days a week, we will either split the crew or have one individual work on the off day (Friday) and then take Monday off, so he gets a 3 day weekend also.I am a great proponent of this system.
I think the future is going to be more people like KloD being able to work from home. It will conserve resources and in the long run, help our economy and increase production.
It's creeping in. Now we just have to get the PLA's rewritten and away from the "All or Nothing" clause.
Me too. I get to write off my equipment and the office I built in our backyard next year.
I agree with you, but home office deductions are a red-flag for the IRS so just be careful.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gaddabout
. There's not a single reason she needs an office or even a building. It would be way cheaper to give her a laptop and $65 a mo. to pay for Internet service and supplement the electric bill.
You are 110% right. I telecommute most of the time, but for the most part I can do the exact same thing at home without the driving cost and waste of unused office space.
Quote:
Originally Posted by 40yearfan
It doesn't take long to get into working a 10 hour day from an 8 hour day.
The one problem I see with working 4/10s is how does that affect parents that put their kids in daycare that don't operate at the same hours as their employer?
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