July 09 2008 / by jcchan
Category: Energy Year: General Rating: 4
Imagine a Friday drive down to a golf course in a neighboring
state, followed by a relaxing Saturday of hiking and fishing, then
spending Sunday at home relaxing with the family. While an extra
day off may not seem like much, who wouldn’t enjoy perpetual 3-day
weekends? 
Thanks to rising fuel prices, that’s exactly what a new State
bill in Utah proposes for thousands of government employees. In
an effort to curb air pollution and reduce state and commuter
energy costs, legislators are seriously pushing for a 4-day,
10-hour work, Monday-to-Thursday work week in place of the
traditional 5-day week.
If the bill is passed, public schools in Utah will transition to
149-day school years instead of 172, with class time extended by 65
minutes each day. But don’t worry about vital public services
because the State police, prison guards, courts, public
universities, and even state-run liquor stores will still hold
regular hours on Fridays. Likewise, hazardous spill disposal and
medicaid phone line services will not be affected by the
changes.
The idea of a four day work week isn’t new. Ever since the gas
crisis of the 1970’s the idea has been floating around to conserve
fuel costs, but only recently have people begun to get excited
about the possible switch-up now that gasoline prices are seriously
pinching travel and commuter budgets.
For example, Suffolk County and New York are already
considering the plan, so it looks as though this could be the
start of a much broader trend. (cont.)
Are you excited about the possibility of a 4-day work week?
Would you like the idea to catch on in your neck of the woods?
Let’s take a look at some of the pros and cons:
PROS:
- Increased leisure time
- Reduced commuter expenses
- Environmental benefits: serious reduction in CO2 and ozone emissions
- Longer family outings
- Reduction in our national dependency on oil: 10-20% to
even 40% according to Aaron Newton of the Oil Drum
- Promotion of telecommuting: 3-day weekends will increase
the likelihood that employees will need to check in from home and
develop expertise in distance labor, thus gradually getting people
used to working form home
CONS:
- Fewer school days result in more kids on the streets in
certain areas
- Financial markets like NYSE and
service businesses like restaurants depend on an extra day
- Train and bus schedules will have to be adjusted
- Signs and laws everywhere would need to be
adjusted
- Promotion of telecommuting: some believe this to be
dehumanizing
Any others that you can think of?
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