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Four-day Work Week Sweeps across the Nation

 

With gas prices sky-rocketing, states across the nation are investigating the option of the four-day work week for state employees.

 

The most drastic change is in Utah where Governor John Huntsman announced that, beginning the first week of August, employees will work 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday.  With the exception of 24-hour facilities and essential services, state offices will be closed on Fridays.

 

New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson ordered agencies to adopt a policy for flexible work schedules by September 1.  Kentucky and South Carolina are piloting programs in some state agencies for the summer.  Arkansas, Michigan, West Virginia and Vermont are looking into expanding current programs.

 

“Oklahoma’s state agencies currently may adopt alternate work schedules,” said OPEA Policy and Research Director Trish Frazier.  “OPEA is working with state leaders to encourage agencies to allow state employees to work four 10-hour days.  Some agencies are being proactive and are already working with OPEA and their employees to implement alternate work schedules.”

 

Representative Mike Shelton has called a public hearing at the Capitol on July 9 at Room 432a at 10:00 a.m.  OPEA is working with Rep. Shelton on the hearing agenda and will be testifying at the meeting.  The agenda will have time allotted for agency and state employee responses.

 

 

Posted on Wed, June 25, 2008 by Trish Frazier

15 comments (Add your own)

1. B wrote:
WHY DID THE STATE JUDGES GET A RAISE? I THOUGHT NO STATE WORKERS WERE GETTING A RAISE?!!

Mon, July 7, 2008 @ 12:14 PM

2. Dorinda Morris wrote:
I oppose a staggered four-day workweek that would require offices to be open 5 days a week but employees to only work 4 days per week. As a 31-year veteran of OKDHS, I worked for the agency when furloughs required employees to be off one day per month to meet budget shortfalls. Unless offices are actually closed, the public has the expectation that offices are fully functional on all days, despite a shortage of employees due to staggered schedules. In small offices such as mine, which has 5 employees, it is impossible to provide basic services, schedule meetings and field work around staggered days off. The result is that unclassified and/or supervisory employees will be doing less supervising and more basic services in the absence of non-supervisory employees. As we have already seen, staggered days off did not work well.

Mon, July 7, 2008 @ 12:48 PM

3. Mark wrote:
Although a four-day work week is an option worth considering, I believe many individuals would run errands on Friday, thus negating any savings that would otherwise occur if they stayed home.

To illustrate, let me use an example:

Assume that your vehicle has an 18-gallon tank and gets 18 miles/gallon. With a gas price of $4.00/gallon, filling your tank will cost you $72.00. You would get approximately 324 miles (18 gallons x 18 miles/gallon) from the tank before refueling.

Based on the above, the cost per mile is $0.22; if the average individual drives 7.5 miles to and from work, the savings would be $3.33 per week.

Given the choice between staying at home one full workday to save $3.33 per week and receiving a pay increase, I would obviously be more supportive of the latter alternative. I hope that the state employees and the teachers can enjoy receiving one in the next fiscal year.

I am not one who believes that we are in a recession; it's a slowdown, to be certain. The economy operates in a cyclical nature; it will rebound as it has in the past!

Mon, July 7, 2008 @ 1:28 PM

4. AJ wrote:
I support this IF it is opptional and not manditory. There are some state employees who would not be able to work 10 hour days due to family and other home obligations. As an example, I have a small child who is in daycare, if I worked 10 hour days, I would have to find a way for them to have care from when the daycare closed and until I got off to pick them up. Not only that, I would only get to spend 30minutes with my child before bedtime and that is not acceptable..If this is a manditory issue, then I would have to quit my state job and look for another job outside of the government and I think that is wrong to do to people with families..

Mon, July 7, 2008 @ 2:45 PM

5. FattCatt wrote:
Mark,

Trust me if I can save money by staying home I will and if I do run errands most of my business would be within 2 or 3 miles of my house and not 40 miles when I drive to and from work.

If the offices are all closed the state will save on utilities.

A plus to the public is the offices will be open later and allow people to do more business after they get off work.

I think it really would help almost everyone however; there will be a few that it will not be helpful at all.

I think the pro's out weigh the con's.

>*x*<

Mon, July 7, 2008 @ 2:55 PM

6. T. Pursell wrote:
I could do a four day workweek, with hours 7am to 6pm. In a heartbeat.

Mon, July 7, 2008 @ 3:05 PM

7. Jr wrote:
I would like to know where did the raise come from for judges? Is title more important then taking care of all State Worker's?? I also want to know did the sonics coming to Oklahoma affect our raise? What benefit to have a team when State Worker's are going without, or having to get in more debt to pay our normal expenses. Food has increased 83% in the last five years, fuel is high. State Officials need to see all workers as a team. together each achieves much. I would be greatful to get a raise. I have reviews, but with no raise why a review to let managment know I am doing my part? It would be nice to get a raise. Their is no team in "I"

Mon, July 7, 2008 @ 3:05 PM

8. Grandma Janie wrote:
I already work a 4 day work week. My complaint is that holiday pay is only for 8 hours, even though everyone in my unit works 4 days (including one weekend day for most workers) for 10 hours. If we are off on a holiday, we must use 2hrs annual or other leave to cover this time off. I save $20 by working 4 day week x 4= $80 mo

Mon, July 7, 2008 @ 4:05 PM

9. Dawn wrote:
OKDHS has the technological capability (wireless internet,cell phones, email etc) to allow staff to become home based. A four day work week or the office being closed one day a week may not be viable for all offices and staff. However; rotating "home based" days would keep the offices open all five business days and reduce fuel cost for staff working from home for the day. The rotating home based days could be scheduled around the "office" day system most units courrently already use. OKDHS reportedly also already has the capability to monitor keystrokes and internet access etc. to evaluate and ensure productivity.

Mon, July 7, 2008 @ 6:45 PM

10. Long time discontented employee wrote:
Well it has not rebounded yet! you all might as well quit trying to think about serving the State of Oklahoma & making it better every second because the legislators, county directors, and supervisors are sure not thinking about you. It does not matter what someone does on their free time-the issue of a 4 day work week is to save the cost on a commute to and from the office one day a week. If the buildings shut down as well, that would be a savings to the state but we are talking about savings to employees.

Mon, July 7, 2008 @ 7:26 PM

11. MEB. wrote:
Mark, I agree with you. History shows that all things work in a cycle. The cycle might be longer sometimes, shorter than others--and unfortunantly, some do produce hardship. However, as Ecclesiastes says "To Everything, there is a season." I confess, I dont' remember the exact book and verse, but to quote from God's book again "This too shall pass."

I don't know everyone's circumstances--and perhaps it is not meant for everyone here to remain a State Employee, maybe for many, there IS a better paying job out there that will allow him or her to better support his or her family. For those of us who are willing to ride out this tough moment, I hope all who wish for 10 hour days get it, and for those of us who don't I hope we can keep our current schedules.

In the meantime, if we are planning to stay, until things smooth out, we will have to tighten our belts the best we can. For me, I have switched to florescent bulbs for some of my light fixtures. I unplug my microwave, both T.V.'s and VCRs, and my computer when not in use. My thermostat is up to 83 % (which I don't remcommend for everyone--especially those whith small children or health issues) and I try to shop more at Aldi's and Wal-Mart. If you have an Angel Food service in your towns, you might look into it.

In the meantime, I pray continuously for the economy to improve. God bless all of us. Everything is in His hands.

Tue, July 8, 2008 @ 10:20 AM

12. Lance Norteno wrote:
I have no desire to work 10 hour days period! In the winter time you will never see the sun. If the legislature can't afford to give us a raise (almost every year), how about 9 hour work days, 4 days a week with a 1/2 hour for lunch. Keep our pay the same. This would technically be a raise. We would work 36 hours a week. In France, full time work is less than that!

Tue, July 8, 2008 @ 11:02 AM

13. Renee wrote:
It is a historic moment when Fattcatt & I agree on anything-but I believe as well the four day work week would help many people. I also think Dawn's thought on home based work days is a very good idea. I believe it would work at DHS. Don't know about other offices. We truly have to have faith in the state employees.

Wed, July 9, 2008 @ 7:46 AM

14. NL wrote:
I, too, have childcare issues that would arise if the 4- day work week is enacted. With 3 children and 1 being a toddler, I would have to quit to find other employment and the way the job market is I could be on Unemployment Insurance for a while.

Wed, July 9, 2008 @ 4:25 PM

15. rt wrote:
If required to work the four day week/ 10 hour per day, holiday pay should be adjusted for the 10 hour day. If required to work the 5th, 6th or 7th work day of the work week, what would be the rate of pay. This opens a large can of worms!

Thu, July 10, 2008 @ 6:46 AM

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