Provocations – A four-day work week?

Posted in Models by fedwards on July 25th, 2008

Discussed recently in the Post-Carbon Cities Newsletter for July, http://postcarboncities.net/newsletter/jul2008, was the idea of a four-day week driven by energy consumption concerns. See the article below. To view the newsletter visit http://postcarboncities.net/newsletter/jul2008.

“A four-day work week? State workers in Utah are now working four-day weeks. So are county workers in Marion County, Florida. A handful of cities in Nevada, California and Arizona are experimenting with the idea, and Suffolk County, New York and the state of West Virginia are also considering it.

In both private and public offices, the four-day work week is an increasingly popular response to high energy costs. Cutting work days saves employees money because it reduces their commuting by 20%. And if the four days are the same for all employees, it can also save city, county or state governments money in facilities. Marion County officials expect this measure to save them $250,000 in energy costs this year. North Miami hopes to save $200,000 by closing its city hall one day a week – but some argue that there may be tradeoffs in service.

That last point is debatable, because while the facilities will be open fewer days, longer hours may make services more available for citizens who work during the day. At any rate, the four-day workweek is part of the toolbox for officials dealing with energy uncertainty.”

Tags: climate change, energy, Provocations
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