U.S. Cities Try 4-Day Workweek to Save Energy | Voice of America - English
Many Americans are looking for new ways to save money, due to the rising price of gas. With nine out of ten Americans driving to their jobs ? about three-quarters of them alone in the car ? and many more on the road for work, one solution gaining popularity is the four-day workweek.
,cityemployees did not get their usual four percent cost of living raise this year.Instead, they got something that nearly everyone thinks is better: a four-daywork week. Thenew policy began July 1, and Carolyn Turner, who's worked for the city for eightyears, says she can already see an improvement in her office. "Mosteverybody I run into in the mornings when I'm coming in, they love it. They'rehappy, energetic, enthused. We just see a difference in the employees'attitudes." Sheadmits the enthusiasm could be simply because the policy is new and exciting,but, she insists, "everybody just seems so refreshed." Traditionally,American businesses operate five days a week, 8 hours a day. But the idea of alonger workday and a shorter workweek to save fuel and money is gainingpopularity with city and state governments across the country. InWisconsin, road crews are putting in fewer days a week? 80 percent of Utah'sstate employees will go on a four-day schedule in August? and lawmakers inAlaska, Arkansas, Idaho and New Mexico are considering legislation to movegovernment workers to a four-day workweek. However, unlike a similar plan in Avondale, Arizona, in which the City Hall isnow closed on Fridays, Birmingham's city offices will remain open all week.Participation in the four-day plan is optional, and most departments, with theexceptions of police and fire, have opted to stagger their schedules. DeborahVance, Mayor Larry Langford's chief of staff, explains, "We asked them tolook towards Mondays and Fridays to take off, but we have some situations wherepeople are taking off Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays." She stressesthat the mayor is not shutting down city business just to do this. In fact,Carolyn Turner notes that having two more hours during her workday means she'sable to provide extended service before and after regular business hours."When I'm driving in, in the morning, the traffic is not as bad, so that'sa really good thing." The easier commute helps her save on gas. "Evenwhen I come into work at 7, there's not a whole lot of people here and thephones are not just constantly ringing." Turner says that gives her more time to do paperwork. Andshe says working a little longer doesn't bother her when she knows she'll havean extra day off. She's now off on Mondays, which gives her a chance to takecare of personal chores and relax around the house. While the abbreviated workweek helps city employees save on gas,Deborah Vance says it has an even larger impact on the municipal government."A large part of our fuel savings comes from the public worksdepartment," she explains, pointing out that more than a quarter of thecity's gasoline is used by its fleet of trucks and cars. "We will realizeby the end of the year a direct savings in fuel." That savings iscurrently estimated at one million dollars. AndVance says there are also environmental savings. "In a place likeBirmingham where there is no mass transit, coming up with a solution to getmore cars off the road and less emissions, [is] better for the entireregion." And,says Mayor Langford, there are social benefits, especially for a city likeBirmingham, which is wrestling with high crime. "I now have mamas anddaddies back in their homes to spend time with their own children," hesays happily, explaining that he hopes that has an impact on crime as well assaving money. "The more mamas and daddies I can have at home, acting likemamas and daddies, I don't have to hire a cop." Accordingto a May survey from the Society of Human Resource Management, one quarter ofAmerican businesses are also offering flexible schedules to help workers offsetthe cost of fuel. LarryLangford isn't surprised. He notes that the problem is not unique to Birminghamor the state of Alabama. "Throughout the world, we have abused what Godhas given us to the point that nature's now fighting back. We don't get themessage that you can't keep taking, taking, taking, until you reach a pointwhere the whole system, earth itself is going to rebel against us." He saysthere is still a chance to reverse the process, "but we've got to get realserious about it."