Would you prefer to work a 4-day week?
By youdontsay
@youdontsay (3497)
United States
June 18, 2008 11:14am CST
Check it out at http://www.terrapass.com
The four-day week
Can a four-day week be good for business and the environment?
June 17, 2008
2,400 city employees in Birmingham, AL will be working four-day weeks this summer. The city believes this may save employees up to $1 million in gas expenses alone, or about five million pounds of CO2.
The motivation of the change was cited as fuel costs for both the city and its workers, but the move also highlights how we can reduce emissions and save money at the same time. In addition to the fuel savings consider the savings in keeping the office locked down: no air conditioning, no computers, lights, or elevators, all of which add up to more energy savings for the city. And the effect on employees is huge:
“People are more excited about having a four-day week than they have been in the past about receiving a cost-of-living raise,” said Deborah Vance, Langford’s chief of staff. “It’s savings for the city, but it’s also actual savings realized by the employees.
1 person likes this
7 responses
@ElicBxn (64169)
• United States
23 Jun 08
I barely had the energy to work 8 hours when I was working full time. In fact, the last few years I had to take naps during lunch to make it thru the day.
I do think its a good option for people if they have the energy and ablility to do so.
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@youdontsay (3497)
• United States
24 Jun 08
I hear you! Before I had to quit work for health reasons I couldn't survive a four-hour day! But for those who are able, I think it may solve a lot of problems.
Hope you are doing o.k. now. 
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@youdontsay (3497)
• United States
25 Jun 08
Yes. Who you work with really makes a difference. I think at least half of my work stress was from co-workers and not the clients!
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@ElicBxn (64169)
• United States
24 Jun 08
Now I basically work about 8 hours a day some days, but its not as stressful because I don't work with the crazy lady I used to work with. And that's 8 hours all together, not 8 hours plus an hour lunch (while I'm trying to sleep) and the time before and after AND picking the roommate up after she gets off.
So I am doing much better.
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@xParanoiax (6987)
• United States
19 Jun 08
I certainly would mind this to become a new trend with jobs.
It's mutually beneficial for the employees and the employers themselves and their business. It has to be great for the economy and the country too, 'cause of that.
I don't care much about carbon dioxide, I do care about pollution though. If we had more trees, maybe carbon would be less of a problem eh? We breathe it out after all, and plants breathe it in to breath out the oxygen we breathe.
Anyway, to combine economics with the environment to the benefit of the people of this country -- I'm all for it, and hope more people come up with creative stuff, and revive more old methods like this that'll help us all out.
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@xParanoiax (6987)
• United States
19 Jun 08
WOULDN'T mind! *laughs* sorry, the typo fairy's really hitting me today!
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@youdontsay (3497)
• United States
20 Jun 08
So far it is pretty unanimous. Let's hear it for the 4-day week! 
@SueRod (238)
• United States
18 Jun 08
I would love a 4 day work week. You'd have an extra day for the weekend. Sometimes there is work to do that we'd have to stay longer during the week anyway. It seems like Friday is goof off day. However, there are jobs when someone needs to be there like nurses, teachers, and jobs of that nature. But as far as factory work, clerical jobs, I think we can do what we need to in 4 days at full-time rather than wasting a Friday. Plus, I didn't even know it sames money for the city. That would be great if they passed a law or bill passing this employment work week schedule. I like this idea.
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@youdontsay (3497)
• United States
18 Jun 08
Contact your legislators and convince them!
Places that need to be staffed all the time already rotate shifts, so I'm not sure how much advantage it would be for them. But four day weeks would make for a happier staff!
Places that need to be staffed all the time already rotate shifts, so I'm not sure how much advantage it would be for them. But four day weeks would make for a happier staff! 
@whittby (3072)
• United States
21 Jun 08
I'd like to give it a try for sure. I wonder how I'd do with a longer work day though and how much more productivity there would be with the longer day. Would the employees have the endurance to crank out their workload on what would it be a 10 hour day or would that afternoon lull last longer? It would be interesting to see the results.
On the other hand, I really see the benefits from the blog on terrapass about the energy savings.
@youdontsay (3497)
• United States
22 Jun 08
Many people say that it wasn't hard to adjust to. Maybe folks get their second wind.
Hope you get the opportunity to try.
@youdontsay (3497)
• United States
19 Jun 08
Sounds like there are lots of folks who favor this. Now we just need to convince the employers that it will help them!
@thebeaddoodler (4262)
• Lubbock, Texas
18 Jun 08
I've been hearing a lot of talk about a 4 day week, but this is the first I've heard of it actually being implemented. Makes perfect sense to me. Even the companies that have to be open 5 to 7 days a week would benefit from having happier employees.
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@youdontsay (3497)
• United States
19 Jun 08
Let's hear it for happier employees! Imagine how quality would improve if employees weren't wondering when they were going to get certain things done that have to be done on a weekday.
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
18 Jun 08
Back in the 70s there was a fuel shortage and I worked a 4 day week and LOVED IT. I did not even noticed the extra two hours a day but I sure noticed and enjoyed the long weekends.
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@youdontsay (3497)
• United States
18 Jun 08
I think it is a good idea, myself. It would save money and help the economy. People spend money when they aren't at work!
