Four day work week gets boost as a way to save on gasoline.

[99th_Monkey]

I think this is fantastic idea: and emblematic of how constructive grass-roots organizing can mitigate the negative
impacts on our everyday lives wrought by corporate greed and "free-market" shell games to fleece the public.

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Workers shifting to 4-day week to save gasoline
Andrea Hopkins
Reuters US Online Report Top News

May 29, 2008 15:07 EST

CINCINNATI (Reuters) - When Ohio's Kent State University offered custodial staff the option of working four days a week instead of five to cut commuting costs, most jumped at the chance, part of a U.S. trend aimed at combating soaring gasoline prices.

"We offered it to 94 employees and 78 have taken us up on it," said university spokesman Scott Rainone.

The reason is simple: rising gas prices and a desire to retain good workers. And while so far only the university's custodians are eligible, Rainone hopes the option will be offered to all departments -- including his own.

"In our office, we have people who travel anywhere from five or six miles to a couple who are on the road 45 to 50 minutes," Rainone said. "As the price of gas rises, the level of grumbling rises."

Regular gasoline averages $3.94 a gallon in the United States, up 33 cents in the past month and 88 cents since the beginning of the year, the Energy Information Administration said this week.

The federal government has offered four-day workweeks to eligible employees for years as part of a flexible work program that also includes telecommuting.

But the surge in gasoline prices is pushing more private employers as well as local governments to offer a four-day week as a perk that eliminates two commutes a week.

http://www.rawstory.com/news/mochila/Workers_shifting_to_4_day_week_to_s_05292008.html

[Juche]

1. Sounds like my schedule

I work 12 hour days 3 days a week, then 10 hour days 4 days a week, then back to 3 12 hour days, etc.

I also am using someone's old metro. If I were working 5 days a week and still driving my old truck that requires 93 octane, I'd be spending $200/month on gas. As it is I'm only spending $80 with this car and this schedule.

[funflower]

2. Why this wasn't done years ago is beyond me. n/t

Those industrie that do allow compressed workweeks (hospitals) or telecommuting (high-tech) have LOYAL employees to show for it.

[Mountainman]

3. Yeah then we'll all get into our RV's and off road vehicles and motor boats and spend three days

burning up the petrol instead of two.


Every weekend on the 101 FRWY I see motor homes pulling cars pulling boats and pickups with trailers loaded with 3 or for quads going somewhere to burn gallons and gallons of that high priced stuff.

[99th_Monkey]

or go for long family bike rides maybe? call me a dreamer. ~nt~

[Mountainman]

6. That would be a good thing. I do see more and more people on bikes.

Not like in Asia buy maybe soon. I had my bike tuned up a few weeks ago.

[Richard Steele]

4. Not to mention how it could be used to obscure the USA's 15% unemployment rate!

Just sayin'.

[ChazII]

5. As a teacher who has to fill out

a yearly form on transportation, I have always opted for the compressed work week. Somehow though, I don't think my students' parents would go for a four day school week.

[Warpy]

7. not if their flinty hearted bosses have them on salary

and are trying to work them 12 hours a day, six days a week!

The problem is conflicts with school hours and work hours. Also, a lot of day care arrangements end at 6PM, another hardship for parents who are working until 7 or 8.

We don't have enough 9 to 5 daycare. 24 hour childcare is a cruel fantasy.