Schaefer Orders 40-Hour Week
ANNAPOLIS, Jan. 8ÛÓMaryland Gov. William Donald Schaefer, who decided last month not to lay off state employees to help1 avoid a budget deficit, ordered today that they work more hours each week.</br></br>In an executive order, the governor established a standard 40-hour workweek for all state employees beginning Feb. 1. The order ' affects about 40,000 state employees who currently are required to put in 35.5 hours. .</br></br>ÛÏAny increase in the number of hours worked will help the state to significantly, reduce overtime costs and improve the Û÷ quality of service to the people of Maryland," Schaefer said in a statement accompanying the executive order.</br></br>Joel Dan Lehman, president of the Maryland Classified Employees Association, predicted that many state workers will strenuously oppose the longer workweek. But he -said that in his opinion, ÛÏItÛªs more important in these economic times to have a job. Would you rather have something or be out.' on the street?" LehmanÛªs union represent*</br></br>The order comes amid a budget crisis that forced Schaefer to trim spending and tap re-i serve funds to offset a projected $423 million shortfall in this yearÛªs $11.5 billion budget Next year's budget also is expected to ber pared.