Four Day Work Week

[jwbassman]

With the rising fuel costs I've been hearing more and more about businesses and local government agencies implementing a four day work week. Curious to see what people's thoughts are.

Below is a link to a CBS new report on the subject.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/...n4189678.shtml

[Jiggybass]

I think people should just not be dumb, if you commute why such a big truck? Most don't need the extra space, and power. Then maybe getting to work won't cost so much.

[James Hart]

my commute is about 40 minutes each way.
I drive a Dodge Neon
I've worked a 4 day work week for the last 23 months.

Forget the gas savings... I love the 3 days off every week

[Atoz]

I work 4 10s as well. 3 day weekends... 4 for Federal holidays.

[JimK]

I would probably drive more on my day off...
...and we broached the 4-day flex week with our management-types.
No go...there's only 4 of us in our section & with each having an area of 'expertise' & thus we can't be missed (& we're on-call 24/7).
Too bad the paycheck isn't commensurate with our 'expertise'.

[JimK]

Originally Posted by Atoz

...4 for Federal holidays.

You, sir, suck.






U lucky SOB.

[MoD_Scotty]

I think it's an awesome idea. 4/3 10s is better than 5/2 8s in so many ways. I hear a lot of public schools are doing it because it's too expensive to put gas in their busses.

I'm on 4/3 right now in college, but it's because I built my schedule that way. I love it. Well, I loved "Tues and Thurs only," more, but that was just a really lucky semester.

[JimK]

Originally Posted by MoD_Scotty

I'm on 4/3 right now in college, but it's because I built my schedule that way. I love it. Well, I loved "Tues and Thurs only," more, but that was just a really lucky semester.

Yeah, that was a huge plus for college over high school.

[seanm]

During the tech slowdown we went to four 8 hour days to save costs. Yes, it meant a 20% pay cut, but I *loved* having three day weekends. And we could afford the cut.

It was harder on people who needed that 20%, but better than getting laid off!

[tZer]

I could easily telecommute and save some serious $$ on gas. But alas, some companies just like to see your smiling face everyday whether you really need to be physically there or not to do your job...

[Atoz]

Originally Posted by JimK

You, sir, suck.

I'll take that as a compliment.

Originally Posted by JimK

U lucky SOB.

If it makes you feel any better, I have a 195 mile round trip commute those 4 days I work. (yes, I vanpool)

[JimK]

Originally Posted by Atoz

If it makes you feel any better, I have a 195 mile round trip commute those 4 days I work. (yes, I vanpool)

Oh, geez. Tell you what...my little 10-mile commute can sometimes last 1 to 1.5 hours. This has happened only a handful of times over the past 20 years...the potential, though, is omnipresent.
Friggin' tunnels.

[jwbassman]

I'm curious if schools will adopt a four day week. The question is would you extend the day or extend the school year? I'd think that you'd have to extend the school year and not the length of the day. Extending the day would cut in to too many after school sports and activities. Also if you were a student playing a sport is would really make it difficult to get homework completed. I know that students who do participate in sports probably have a hard enough time keeping up with home work after a sporting event. Imagine getting home even later. Plus the scheduling issues that would occur with sports and field and basketball courts would probably get messed up with and extended day. I think that the 4 day school week would have to be an extended school year. Some towns are considering it though.

[Tsal]

Originally Posted by jwbassman

I'm curious if schools will adopt a four day week. The question is would you extend the day or extend the school year? I'd think that you'd have to extend the school year and not the length of the day.

That doesn't save the gas, though. 10-hour days.. yeah, why not?

[buzzbass]

I think that would be cool. Generally, I'm at work for 10 hours a day anyway. My work week would become 10 hours shorter, for the same pay. Bring it on

[JimK]

Originally Posted by jwbassman

I'm curious if schools will adopt a four day week.

I don't see this happening...especially if the parents are working 5 days/week.
Too many parents are using the schools as a 5-day Child Care Center, right.

[kasanovakarl]

Under the right circumstances it would be a great idea. I can't see why people wouldn't want to move to this system.

Unfortunately for those of us who work in manufacturing know all too well that there is a 24/7/365 timeframe that needs to be taken into account. Our plant is always running, even if it is a scaled down crew.

[Jeremy Crockett]

Originally Posted by Jiggybass

I think people should just not be dumb, if you commute why such a big truck? Most don't need the extra space, and power. Then maybe getting to work won't cost so much.

That works well until you realize that some folks are making payments on a truck or car they got when gas was still $2.00 a gallon. In any case who are you to tell people what they "should" and "should not" drive?

[MoD_Scotty]

Originally Posted by OctoberMooN

That works well until you realize that some folks are making payments on a truck or car they got when gas was still $2.00 a gallon. In any case who are you to tell people what they "should" and "should not" drive?

I'm sorry, but even at $2.00/gallon, it was still dumb to buy a big truck to commute in UNLESS you need to tow stuff and/or transport big heavy things all the time. Or if the commute is only a few miles, then it's no big deal.

As far as telling people what they can/can't drive...OPEC/BP/Shell/Exxon/etc is already doing it. Just wait until they realize they can charge us $8/gal and we'll still buy it.

[Dangle]

i loved it when i had 4 day weeks, had fri, sat and sun off for about 6 years, it was sweet. i'd do it again. don't think it's gonna save gas tho, i drive more on my days off then when i'm at work