T.G.I.Thursday
- Posted by: Ben Jervey
- on August 24, 2009 at 3:40 pm
An energy- and money-saving solution that pretty much everyone can get behind: three-day weekends.
Workers of the world, unite in giving Utah a round of applause. The Beehive State has made Thursday the new Friday, and by proving the benefits of this condensed calendar, Utah has brought us all closer to the dream of a shortened workweek.
A year ago, Republican Governor Jon Hunstman announced the Working 4 Utah initiative, essentially putting 17,000 of the state’s 24,000 executive branch employees on a 10 hour a day, four day a week schedule. The goal for the cash-strapped state was energy savings. Now that a full year has passed (we checked in on the program back in April), a clearer picture of the benefits is coming into focus.
Learning from the lessons of Utah, here are five reasons the “TGIT” (Thank Goodness It’s Thursday) four-day, 40-hour workweek just might make sense:
1: Energy savings and reduction in carbon emissions
Closing state offices on Fridays has cut energy use by 13 percent in Utah. Officials hope to bring that number closer to 20 percent as the kinks are worked out (and as they figure out how to actually shut down some of the heating and cooling systems in some of the buildings). Through these energy savings alone, Utah is shrinking its carbon footprint by about 6,000 metric tons. If you add in the gasoline savings from fewer commutes, that number is doubled—to roughly the equivalent of taking 2,300 cars off the road for a year.
2: Traffic reduction and commuter health
Of course, as fewer workers commute on any given day, there’s less traffic. But the hour shift for the four-day crew also thins out the traditional rush hours, speeding up travel for everyone. Besides easing the mental burden of traffic, commuters are exposed to fewer airborne pollutants. A California EPA study found that “50 percent of a person’s daily exposure to ultra fine particles (the particles linked to cardiovascular disease and respiratory illnesses) can occur during a commute.”
3: Budget boost
There are big savings to be had in operational costs when shaving a day off the workweek. As of May, nine months into the program, Utah had saved $1.8 million. And, according to Governor Huntsman, “the cost savings will only grow if the four-day workweek is granted permanent status” because the state can renegotiate long-term leases and further refine “smarter” energy, heating, and cooling systems in buildings.
4: Happier, healthier workforce
Lori Wadsworth, a researcher at Brigham Young University, surveyed Utah workers who’ve transitioned to the 4 x 10 schedule and found that 82 percent prefer it. And, according to Wadsworth, “Utah employees actually show decreased health complaints, less stress, and fewer sick days.” And while absenteeism has dropped, productivity and quality of service have improved—customer complaints, for example, at state agencies like the DMV are down. Early evidence seems to quell the initial fears that 10-hour workdays would “burn out” employees.
5: Economic stimulus through savings
It costs money to go to work—commuting expenses like gas, tolls, or public transit fares are obvious, but plenty of workers also pay for five days of childcare every week. Collectively, Utahans are expected to save $5 million to $6 million annually on commuting alone. Thus the four-day workweek has macroeconomic benefits as well, leaving more cash in the pockets of workers.
While we’ve come to take it for granted, the the Monday-through-Friday, 8-hour workday, 40-hour workweek has only been the standard since 1938 when the Fair Labor Standards Act was passed. It made plenty of sense at the time, and improved the lives of loads of American workers who regularly endured dangerously long hours with scant free time. But, in reality, the Monday-through-Friday grind was rather arbitrary, and as Utah’s experiment has already shown, it could well be time for a rethink.
So who’s next? Some cities like El Paso, Texas, and Melbourne Beach, Florida are already launching their own T.G.I.T. programs, and a GM plant in Ohio is shifting to the four-day workweek as well. Big states with massive public payrolls like New York (which has a public workforce 10 times the size of Utah’s) and California are also paying very close attention. Said John Harrington, Utah’s state energy manager, “I can’t even name all the places that have called us.”
DISCUSSION: 79 Comments
4 x 10 sounds awesome. I think that most people would be happy to insert a few extra hours of productivity each day in exchange for 3 day weekends. I hope to see a petition for California on this matter soon. Great article.
Interesting idea, I would have thought 10 hours days would lead to less productivity by the end of the day, but it sounds like that’s not the case so far,However, I don’t get the “Economic Stimulus” argument. Sure, by not spending money on commuting, people will have more money to spend elsewhere. And that’s nice for them, but in terms of stimulating the economy isn’t this just shifting spending from one part of the market to another? Is there any reason to believe that spending money on non-commute related purchases will be any more “economically stimulating”?
I did the 4 x 10 for two years as a high school teacher in rural, southern Colorado. It was excellent. I spent Saturdays coming down, destressing; Sundays truly relaxing and not thinking about lesson plans or grading; and Mondays preparing for the week ahead. We had nine-hour days, which were sometimes brutal (the 22-minute lunch didn’t help), but we had plenty of recovery time. The four-day workweek saves money, yes, but more importantly it saves sanity.
[...] twelve months, the results are in, and it’s a winner! Not only do state workers love having a stress-reducing, three-day weekend, the energy savings due [...]
4 x 10: yes please! although the best jobs are the ones that you stay 10 hrs. a day for anyways…
I’ve also heard (via NPR) that many of these workers have increased their volunteer time.
I think a 4 day 10 hour week would be a benefit to everyone. Sure you might have to adjust to government being off. Maybe the public sector could work tuesday thru friday and the government work monday thru thursday so we could have access if needed to agencies on our day off? I’m sure it would boost the moral of most people to know they had 3 days off! I know it would mine. I would love to have more time at home and with my family!
Not so fast on this one. First off, the argument that workers do not feel “burnt out” is not necessarily so. I worked for three years for a private sector company (an insurance company) that was run like the military (ie, a definite pro-government-mindset, regimented atmosphere) in Texas when I was young (23 – 26), in peak physical condition and with a work ethic that was very strong. So my personal factors would seem ideal for such an arrangement, right? The fact of the matter was that a 7:15am arrival time; 5:45pm departure time with 30 minutes for lunch turned out to be a grueling schedule for anyone who was doing desk work, with a “quota” sort of efficiency model (we had to “work” a certain number of files per day with the phone calls, correspondence and computer file documentation required) and high level mental tasks as key elements of the job. I obviously can’t speak to how ten hours standing would effect a factory worker or other person doing more physical or manual work than mental work, but I would think that would have a limit to it, physically, as well as mentally, as well. (I know my friend the hairdresser thought that there is NO WAY even with the highly elastic hosiery that she already wears that she could stand for ten straight hours a day and do coloring and perms. No way.) Back to my own situation, the FIRST year the idea of a four-day week sounded SO appealing – oh neat, an extra day to shop and hang out with my family and friends. By the tenth or eleventh month of the SECOND I was beginning to wonder if this was really such a good idea, because I was beginning to feel a little off kilter. In the second year I was really feeling tired and my shopping and hanging out Saturday began to give way to naps, then more sleep. By the THIRD year I felt absolutely crummy, and had to drag myself into work, and the files quota started to feel like the “I Love Lucy” episode where Lucy and Ethel were on the candy assembly line, and the line kept speeding up. I started to use my Saturday late afternoons and evenings (sleeping Saturday until then just to make up some of my sleep deficit from M-TH) to look for a different, normal 5 day a week job, and WOW, was I delighted to get back to M-F!And the “I Love Lucy” assembly line brings up another point: Let’s see. The state gets the workers accustomed to the ten hour a day work day, toughens them up, or at least zombies them out. The workers initially said, ah great and jumped on the 10 hr bandwagon, intending to KEEP their current salaries (and that would be a clever carrot at the beginning, to say there will not be a 20% pay cut – although the Utah article does not say what the state did there about salaries, and salaries there MAY have gone down 20% or down 10% some per cent, or a freeze placed on future increases in exchange, when the number of days was one less or not; it just doesn’t say, and even if it didn’t the KEY fact here is that this is a cheerleading article based on merely a 12 MONTH social experiment) and FREE up one additional day for themselves. But then – out of nowhere! – the state “I hate lucy” assembly line speeds up! The government says, you work four days a week for ten hours; you can work five days a week for ten hours. Suddenly this does NOT seem like such a good idea at all, does it? In fact it would be the exact opposite of what most wrongly assumed when they signed on. In fact the workers would have just enslaved themselves back into the old wage and hours conditions that existed before 1938 and FAIR labor standards were enacted, and they’d have less time for their families, friends and themselves, and they’d be too tired to do anything about it and if all were on M-TH there would be no M-F to go to. Yikes. So two questions come to mind: What would be the guarantee that the 40 hour work week would not in time expand incrementally to 48 hours, 52 hours or even more? Clearly there is none. What would be the guarantee that when the work week went from M-F to M-TH, supposedly for cost savings that may or may not be there in any signficant degree anyway, that the powers that be would not ALSO tinker with your salary and CUT it back 5%-10%-20% to supposedly offset the supposed value that the worker is getting from this extra day off? Clearly there is none; you’d actually be worse off. And again, even what seems like a great idea in the EARLY months may turn out to be a bad idea OVER TIME, and you may feel truly bad physically and burnt out mentally. Then what do you do?
Do you really feel that you can run yourself like a worker MACHINE – which is what the 10 hour day can be, and it can be that gruelling even when you are a 23 – 26 worker in the peak of health with a great attitude. I know that from personal experience. So what do you do when you are 37? Or 49? Or 61? Not good.An earlier poster also made the excellent point that some professional workers already work 10 hour (up to 18 hours often in a push) days – and look at their divorce and alcoholism/drug rates. Does this really sound like something that will HELP your family? The other thing to question is the energy argument. 30,000 scientists have come on board to question the truth of many of the energy arguments being tossed around in recent years. The government’s own GAO has questioned a lot of the energy savings arguments from proposals similar to this Utah and proposed for government offices.
Before blithely jumping on a shallow promise of change (that may or may not be for the better) I would suggest that everyone read up and think. Because those who do not know their history are bound to repeat it. (Research the reasons WHY the Fair Labor Standards Act came into being. Related research term, sweat shops.) Because we are all smart to be careful what we wish for, because we might just get it and it may not be so hot, after all.
READ. THINK before you automatically sign on. If this was really such a great idea why wouldn’t government and industry have come up with it decades ago, not just at a time when the country is economically in trouble and citizen jobs are disappearing in huge numbers and people are scared that their job might be next, so more willing to grasp at any straw or agree to things they might not in more normal times…So are you really sure this is a proposal with the citizens in mind? Or maybe some other group? Just a question to think through carefully…
My plant was on a 4/10 work week for years. Everyone liked it when I initially took over and only 10% of the people stated that it was too long of a day. So I left well enough alone and continued on. We are a manufacturing plant in Michigan so even though we don’t operate on the three days we still have to keep the heat on in the plant the entire week during the winter months.
My job involves me to be here 5 days a week in the office so I wasn’t working the standard 6:00AM to 4:30PM shift but more along the lines of 7:00AM to 5:00PM or so. A few of the morning I decided to come in early I found very low productivity. Most of the employees were walking around looking for their coffee cup and so on. So I started tracking hourly production and the first hour of the day and last two hours were very poor. I changed the plant back to 5/8 hour days and over the last year have increased productivity and our injuries and absenteeism has actually decreased by 40%. My electric and heat costs have stayed constant as the plant is running the same 40 hours a week. So the numbers for my case just don’t justify the longer days.
Hospitals have been doing this kind of thing for years. Many RNs and allied health workers actually work three 12-hour shifts per week. Some even work two 12 hours shifts and two 8 hour shifts for an even forty hours. Obviously this is doable, even for people who spend most of their workday on their feet. For office work it is even more doable. Cutthechase, the kind of stress insurance companies put their employees under is another story, but that’s really a different issue anyway. I used to handle in-house disability for such a company. The number of employees who were going on out “stress leaves” was ridiculous, even with a standard, five day work week. There are working conditions nobody should have to endure for any length of time.
I think it’s a great idea! A three day weekend gives you a day for errands, a day for the house, and a day to relax. It would be so much easier to spend all day at work if I weren’t worrying about all I still needed to do at home. I start every Monday tired from trying to cram everything into the weekend.
What about the impact on the local businesses? Restaurants will lose a ton of money from the missing day’s lunch rush. Parking lots/garages will lose money. How much toll money is lost from the lack of commuters? Prices will be raised to make up for the short fall.
Had this option years ago. The place I worked gave you a choice of a standard 8 hour work day, four ten hour days with every Friday off, or eight 9 hour days, then one 8 hour day, with every other Friday off. I looked at the options, and decided nine or ten hour days were too long. Heck I was ready to go home after 6 hours! Because I traveled a lot, I always had enough comp time and sick days, that I took a half day off almost every Friday.
In the article it states that parents will save by only needing childcare for 4 days. However, most centers are only open from 7:00 am – 6:00 pm, which would not fit into a 10-hour/day schedule. If the parent is working longer for 4 days in a row, when will they be spending time with their kids? Also, how many businesses can afford to be closed a whole day? Many office jobs involve data or situations that can change hourly. Being totally closed for an extra day may not be an option for many offices.
I already work 10+ hour days, 5 days a week and have for the past 2-1/2 years. The extra 10 hours is OT and vital to my quality of life. Making a 4 day work week would remove the OT and all my discretionary spending. Without it I’d also have zero retirement savings. Also, though I’m accustomed to those hours now there are definitely times that I am dragging and simply not able to focus well. It’s usually noticeable after Wednesday. I don’t believe most people can maintain that type of focus, sustainably over time. Also, in jobs where safety is a concern, I think the tiredness could be seriously detrimental. I am fortunate to have some free flow in my assignments most of the time, and manage by doing the less challenging work toward the end of the week. Projects demanding more attentiveness or solid planning are launched / done early in the week.
Personally, I prefer five 10-hr days. That way, I can take care my family for the long haul without any need for the government to steal money from my neighbors to support us during economic downturns and after retirement. I’ll buy my own health insurance, thank you.
Response to “cut2thechase”:::I apologize for being so blunt, but both you and your hairdresser must be complete wimps. The United States certainly has not gotten strong over the past 200 years with the likes of “workers” like you two.The 4 day work week seems to be one great solution for many current problems.
Here’s an idea. GET OFF the 40 hour brainwashed mindset! How about four – 8 hour days! Saves each person money on the commute and fuel by 1 day, same coverage as before (1 group does monday thru thurs, the other does tues thru friday) and viola! MORE JOBS FOR EVERYONE. 32 hours a week is PLENTY. There is no reason we all need to be slaving away for 40 hours. Not only this, but people can actually still run those annoying errands like car maintenance, doctors / dentist apointments, bank trips without having to burn an already scarce vacation day.
From the desk of a Utah State employee, who was forced into the 4/10 work week, it really stinks. The 80% of employees who were polled are either men, single women with no kids or older people with grown children. I am in my 30’s, a woman, with 2 kids in elementary school. My husband now has the responsibility of getting the kids ready in the morning and taking them to school. The cost of daycare alone, is jepordizing our finances. Working at this computer for 10 hours a day was taking a toll on my family life and my health. Not getting the kids from daycare until 6 at night, makes whinny kids. Driving through traffic, makes a whinny mother. Making dinner? not tonight, it’s McDonald’s or cold cereal for us again because mom is too tired. Go out and play? nope, everyone is too tired and we have home work. Get to bed by 8:30, nope, still doing home work… maybe another hour or so because everyone is so tired and crying about having to do home work. Let’s not mention the 20 – 25 pounds I have gained within the year and a new prescription of anti-depressants.Some times I day dream about getting fired, just so I can spend time with my kids & husband.And the above comment where workers come in late, wander around waiting for the coffee to brew, chatting while fixing breakfast, putting on their make-up… yep! going on as I type.Talk about people being burned out and less productive, I’m seeing it! Instead of people taking off on Fridays, now it’s Thursdays for a 4 day week… and they aren’t looking forward to Monday either.I don’t really see where energy is being saved… 40 hours a week is…40 hours a week. Right? Not driving on Friday? Whatever, 99% of these people go out of town or go shopping. The Utah roads are crowded more than ever on Fridays because of State workers and their 4/10’s.
muffy72 , heres an idea.. QUIT WORKING THEN. Mothers coming to work full time are the reason middle class salaries are on the steady decline. It directly co-insides with the 50’s and 60’s when they all started working full time with kids. Same reason why a chicken coupe POS of a house is now unaffordable to a middle class working person.
cut to the chase , you must be one of those workers that cry an wine about everything!! i worked in a factory that built millitary trailers !! we done the 4×10! it went over great!! we loved it!! nobody was anymore tired than they normally was!! so go america an lets get the 4×10!!!
I work eight 9 hour days, one 8 hour day, and get one Friday off in a two week period. When I first started, it wasn’t the days that seemed longer, but the week. I do like having the Friday off, but could not imagine working another hour a day. Of course, I also walk to and from work. By the time I get home, I am usually pretty tired. My motivation and energy level are low. So, I usually feel like I am just working and sleeping.
aw poor muffy!! grow up!!1
just kidding muffy!! u have your opinion!!!!!!!!
The 4×10 work week sounds great. Only one problem, it depends who you work for. I work for a commercial printer, which is a 24/7 operation. We do get holidays off and I’m sure they would like to do away with those “perks”. We’re a customer driven company where the customer is No. 1, always! If I were on a 4×10 work week, they would probably call me in on Friday to work, or tell me the day prior to my 3 day weekend. Changing jobs is not an option at my age. You older workers know what I mean. None the less it would be fantastic to have 3 days off every week, but we’ll never see that rainbow!