USA Today: Soaring fuel prices drive some to try four-day workweeks

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.usatoday.com/money/workplace/2008-06-01-work-week-four-day-gas-prices_N.htm

By Stephanie Armour, USA TODAY

Escalating gas prices are prodding businesses and local governments to take a drastic step to curb costs: Many are cutting back to four-day workweeks, with employees generally working four 10-hour days instead of five eight-hour days.

In most cases, they're acting because of pressure from employees who want shorter workweeks, which generally mean lower driving costs. Companies and local government offices are shortening individual workweeks with staggered schedules, but in most cases, staying open five days.

It's a sign of how deeply gas prices are cutting into employees' pay and businesses' bottom lines. The last time four-day workweeks came into vogue was during the gas run-up in the 1970s.

•In Alabama, the city of Birmingham decided to adopt a four-day week for employees starting July 1.

"We are doing it in an effort to help employees save some money on gasoline," says Deborah Vance, chief of staff to the mayor. "Offices and departments that deal directly with the public will maintain their five-day schedule."

FULL story at link.

[itsrobert]

1. It just gives the employees more time to take long weekend trips

More time to make road trips to see relatives several hundred miles away.

[madrchsod]

2. our community college is going to 4 days this fall

i think there is going to be a lot of 4 day- 10-12 hour shifts from now on. if i had a job i`d sure like to work 4 days a week.