(16 votes)
A couple of states have already went to a 4-day work week, while others are submitting proposals to see if this is feasible or not. Make it mandatory for all agencies. Utah is saving 3 million a year. Have you considered how much Virginia could save? It would also cut down on the use of pool vehicles. As high as gas prices are getting, we could use some sort of alternative work plan.
Response from state government
Secretary of Administration
The Commonwealth’s Hours of Work Policy permits state agencies to adopt alternate work schedules for employees, including four-day work weeks. This has been an option for many years. Work hours are assigned by each agency based on business need. The four-day work week is attractive to many employees for purposes of fuel conservation as well as other reasons, and it is one of many alternate work schedules that are allowed.
Secretary Viola O. Baskerville
4 Day Work Week
Do we get 40 hrs a week from the employees now? Would this decrease the output?
4 day work week
With the extended work day state offices would be available after 5:00. This would help by allowing many working people to utilize these offices after work thus staying on the job, making wages, and paying taxes.
My eye doctor adusted his work week to four 10 hour days and his business increased.
4 Day Work Week
OK Do we get a full 40 hrs a week from gov employees now? How would this effect the output?
4 day work week
On September 25, 1926, Henry Ford revolutionized the American economy by creating the eight-hour-a-day, five-day work week. That was before rural electrification, mass transportation, and micro computers. Mr. Ford's motivation for this radical change was to increase productivity.
Considering the level of technology that we now enjoy I feel the timing is perfect for another readjustment of the work week. I don't agree with the proposed 4 day 40 hour plan. A 4 day 36 hour week to be further adjusted to 32 hours after 2 years would be more appropriate. Wages would stay the same.
Citizens today just like in Mr. Ford's day can not make enough money 5 days a week to be self sufficient. Mr. Ford knew that people had to have time to take care of themselves. He realized that people could not make enough money to pay for everything that they needed. They needed time to be self sufficient.
Wall Street experts told him he was a fool and all other manufacturers of the era resisted his ideas until results proved him right. Since then the 40 hour week has been a national standard. At our current level of technological efficiency it is foolish not to make this change. The energy savings alone would be 20% of current expenditures. This is a sound idea.
Reply to jw951
We do at our agency. It wouldn't effect the output if the days you work were extended. Hours could be extended for four days. This would get the same amount of work done as working 8 and 5.