The Four-Day Work Week

For the past year, the Utah government have been experimenting with a four-day work week for state workers. The state experiment's original goal was to increase energy savings among state buildings, but many other benefits have been proven as a result of the policy change. 'If you shut offices down one day a week, you don't have to cool them, heat them, and workers don't have to drive to work. Everyone saves money,' says Bryan Walsh of Time Magazine. In addition to the millions of dollars Utah has saved on energy costs, many workers are saving money used for transportation costs while playing a part in environmental conservation. 'We found that there was less traffic and less air pollution because there were less people on the roads' says Walsh.

NYS Assemblyman Mike Gianaris (D-36, Queens) is another person who has subscribed to the idea and expressed his interest in having a four-day workweek instituted in New York State. This program is 'estimated to save New York $3 million a year,' says Gianaris. In addition to the issue of government and energy sayings, Walsh saysthat the majority of workers surveyed commented on the difference in their quality of life. 'A lot of people found that they had more time to do errands. Other people found themselves volunteering and exercising.'

Utah state workers that did express some concerns with the work-day change discussed the issues surrounding childcare and the problems that arise with increased daily work hours. In order to compensate for the four-day workweek, the government would have to institute extended work days, meaning, an eight-hour day would become a ten-hour day."9 to 5" would become "8 to 6". In terms of childcare, Assemblyman, Gianaris proposed that "the state intervene and provide parents with extended hour daycare."

Still, while many express the joy in a three-day weekend, it seems that for the private sector, the four-day week may just not be possible for many people, especially those who work over 40 hours a week. However, the possibility of working from home has been another accompanying discussion which may answer questions surrounding childcare and those who work overtime. As Walsh says, "It's not worthwhile for so many of us to be spending time on the train and subway when it may not even be necessary for us to be going into work." -- Khaheni Saunders

Listen to The Brian Lehrer Show segment:

Time Magazine staff writer Bryan Walsh writes about Utah's successful experiment with a four-day workweek, then NYS Assemblyman Mike Gianaris (D-36, Queens) talks about why he wants the four-day workweek instituted in New York State.