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by Mark_Ockerbloom from Dedham

Last Post 58 minutes Ago


4 Day Work Week
Jun 8, 2008 | 6:25 PM
Category: News
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High gas prices are forcing some companies and schools in the US to shift to four-day weeks, a welcome change for many students and workers. Instead of working five, eight-hour days, employees work four, ten-hour days. Many companies point to significant savings on fuel for not only the employee, but for the company as well. My concern is this, even though it's only two extra hours a day, I'd be curious to know how productive those hours are. A similar question surrounds certain school systems that are going to four-day weeks by adding an extra 65-minutes to the school day. Let's face it, some kids can't handle the normal time allotted and no doubt the additional time in class may take it's toll on the teachers, too.

In the end, it all falls squarely on the shoulders of the workers and students to make sure they see the four-day work week and three day weekend for what they really are -- a real opportunity to save on fuel and day care, and a chance to spend more quality time with friends and family -- but only after working harder, longer and more effectively the rest of the week. Can it work? Yes. Will it work? I have my doubts. How 'bout you?
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Member Comments Total Comments: 21
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legendkiller34 read my blog
Jun 8, 2008 | 8:23 PM

Mark,
Four day work weeks?
So in essence, what our "fearless leaders"
are trying to think of is a four day work week.
Not for nothing but I'm wondering, does that mean you can't get sick or injured on friday because the hospitals would be closed?
Or does it mean the supermarkets would close thurs. night then reopen on Monday?
Instead of wasting their time on foolish things like this why don't they spend more time trying to think of how to lower the gas and oil.
legendkiller34 read my blog
Jun 8, 2008 | 8:25 PM

Mark,
also I always wondered, when you and Maria show up on sunday night for the news, do you guys have to turn the lights on and fire up the generator at the station?
LOL LOL just kidding
Mark_Ockerbloom read my blog view my photos
Jun 8, 2008 | 8:36 PM

legendkiller34,

I agree with you. Average Americans are all trying to come up with creative ways to combat rising fuel prices. How 'bout the US Government doing the same?
fenwaydav read my blog view my photos
Jun 8, 2008 | 9:52 PM

Hi Ock, 4 day work week has been around since the early days. I even think Fred and Barney had that option giving to them by Mr. Slate. The VA Hospital (a government agency) has giving that option to many of it's nursing staff. Other hospitals have done the same. Production in the work place hasn't lost anything. As a matter of fact, I would think a happy employee makes for a happy work environment leading to a happy employer. As for school, now there I don't see a benefit.
JuneInMA read my blog view my photos
Jun 8, 2008 | 10:36 PM

Mark,

I say...bring it on!!! There's hardly a day when I leave the office before 6:30pm! What's an extra 30 minutes in exchange for an extra day off? I'd love it!!
NDCHA
Jun 8, 2008 | 11:02 PM

Mark , for the past ten + years the Massachusetts Army National Guard has had in place a 4 day work week and works fine , but beginning tomorrow will start a 5 day work week . We going backwards instead of fwd . Can you please help .........
Chip read my blog view my photos
Jun 9, 2008 | 5:50 AM

Study productivity with a random sample of employees. If employees are equally as productive in 4 ten hour days, it's a "no brainer". If they aren't, it's also a "no brainer".

And just give June the day off...because she's cute!!!
sirB read my blog
Jun 9, 2008 | 6:47 AM

4 day work week? On what planet?!
JuneInMA read my blog view my photos
Jun 9, 2008 | 9:01 AM

And this is why I'd work for Chip!!!! :)
shanniesdad
Jun 9, 2008 | 10:42 AM

hospitals have 12 hr shifts, some local goverments have 4 10 hr days; this is not that big a deal. It may take some restructuring of staffing but if it saves money and productivity doesn't suffer, I'm all for it.
Want to save thousands of gallons a year? How about eliminating NASCAR? Think of all the fuel wasted every race?
moxy235
Jun 9, 2008 | 12:19 PM

How about tele-commuting for customer support jobs, and passive solar heating systems for homes and offices? How in the world is the population in New England going to afford heating their homes with the oil prices this high? Not to mention the towns keep upping the assessments and taxes. Everything is going up not just the gas? Where are our leaders?
moxy235
Jun 9, 2008 | 12:43 PM

Four day work week is a nice option for those who cannot tele-commute or can pretty much get their job done in four days. However this crisis is no shock, and has been coming for sometime, as we use everything to excess. Oil is a non-renewable resource and we are depleting it at such a high level that there is not going to be any by the year 2020. We also have to take into consideration the fact that newly industrialized societies such as India and China have taken a huge chip out of the oil market.
The answer is not to drill in Alaska or off shore Mexico those are limited amounts and the destruction to the environment is not worth the risk. Hello people we suffer from the greenhouse effect we need sturdy eco-systems and many trees. The answer is in alternatives such as hybrid electric cars, wind power, battery, solar power, hydro-electric, bio-diesel, Hydrogen, switch grass ethanol (not corn to costly). So when you pull up to the “gas station” you will be asked if you prefer, a new battery, plug in, ethanol, hydrogen or ethanol. To heat your home you could use wind-power, direct solar or even passive solar take a look at the “enertia house”. The key to independence from Oil is moderation and alternative forms.
jonsmom read my blog view my photos
Jun 9, 2008 | 1:32 PM

Mark,

You bring up savings on day care costs. This would be true for someone who gets a four day work week. But as far as kids who end up getting a four day school week, the day care costs for people who don't get a four day week will increase. People who don't currently need day care because their kids are in school will now need it unless their company changes to four day weeks. I'd love to work four 10 hour days but it wouldn't work in my job because we are a clinic that is open five days.
I, unfortunately, need to be here when it's open.
Jakethecat view my photos
Jun 9, 2008 | 5:22 PM

Big doubts. there are too many professions that require folks being at work whenever it is necessary. More important-- health care workers, less important, me. The milk has to be used to make yogurt w/in 72 hrs. A small example of how it is not feasable. People have to get to work. I don't see any less people driving around. I'll tell you what I do see-- more mini-coopers.
Maria_Stephanos read my blog
Jun 9, 2008 | 7:50 PM

Mark, I'm in. Way in. I dream of a 4 day work week every night. No, I'm not afraid to work. I love working. I love my job. I would work doubles everyday if I could work just 4 days. Oh wait. I do that anyway! See you on the news. Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. :)
herbdaniels read my blog
Jun 9, 2008 | 8:37 PM

If you just consider it as an individual idea instead of dragging political or corporate hate into the equation, it's actually a pretty good idea. 20% of an energy bill is HUGE!!!

If the answer to every question is "i hate the oil companies or i hate Bush" maybe that's not the answer at all.
Consider it on a case by case basis, considering both the company and person's needs. Also effective is flex hours, to cut peak traffic and idoling.
KEEP TRUCKING AND KEEP THINKING EVERYBODY!
shanniesdad
Jun 9, 2008 | 8:41 PM

Hang on! Maria is NOT eligible for a 4 day week...need her all 5 days! : )
Mark_Ockerbloom read my blog view my photos
Jun 9, 2008 | 11:36 PM

Maria,

I'm with you kid...four day weeks sound awful nice! Three day weekends even better! Ahh to dream...zzzzzzzz,zzzzzzz,zzzzzzz:)
legendkiller34 read my blog
Jun 10, 2008 | 8:33 AM

Mark,
Sorry but you and Maria need to get that 4 day work week out of your minds, See when you
and Maria are off, we the faithful bloggers,
and fox watchers are forced to view other stations, to see if maybe you and Maria are making guest appearences.
LOL LOL
Mister_CW read my blog view my photos
Jun 11, 2008 | 8:37 PM

Right now I'm on a "no day" work week - and I hate it.
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Mark_Ockerbloom

I anchor the Fox 25 News at 5, 10 & 11pm and want to hear from you. Feel free to drop me a line anytime.

Member Since: 10/17/2006


 

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