New thinking concerning the traditional work week comes from a study of Utah, which instituted a four-day work week initiative. A year ago Utah implemented a four-day work week for all state employees. Their primary goals included reduced costs and reduced energy usage. A year later, early results indicate that their approach has been successful in many ways.
When did the Monday through Friday, eight to five work weeks become the standard? Anyone who works on a farm or grew up doing so knows that you worked sun-up to sun-down, Monday through Friday, and half a day on Saturday. Sunday was the only day of rest. The official, non-agrarian work week, became Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in 1938 with the passing of the Fair Labor Standards Act. The legislation was adopted to ease the working plight of laborers who were being required to work very long hours with very little time off.
Some of our European friends have gone to even greater extremes concerning work rules and the hours allowed in a work week. Some have mandated that the week can be no longer than 32 hours. Other regulations provide mandatory four to six weeks of vacation. It seems that the European countries that have reduced their work-week did so in the hopes that workers would be more productive in a shorter work day/work week environment. Many would argue that the productivity in those countries has actually declined as a result of these mandates.
Utah, on the other hand, simply shortened the work week by a day by increasing the normal eight hour shift to 10. Most of us have worked, or know someone who does or has worked 10- and 12-hour shifts. The most laborious jobs could be too difficult or even dangerous to convert from eight hours to 10. But many jobs, especially those that are administrative or professional could certainly be done in a 10-hour setting.
The Utah project benefited the state and its employees in many different areas. Energy savings were identified early on to be one area that a shorter work week could impact. After a year, the results indicate that the state decreased its expenditures for energy by 13 percent. Utah feels that with more focus and adjustments, it can boost that number to more than 20 percent.
When the savings of less commutes are factored in, Utah feels their initiative will be equivalent to taking 2,300 cars off of the road for an entire year. Imagine the cleaner air in cities like Atlanta, Los Angeles and New York, if similar reductions in commutes could be achieved.
The initiative also aimed to help with the deficit budget facing Utah. Through nine months, the initiative is believed to have saved the state more than $1.8 million. These savings could even be higher if a permanent shorter work week were adopted by using smart technology for energy management and adjusting longer-term leases. Utah has a fairly small state employee system. Imagine the cost-saving potential for states like New York and California.
An unintended consequence of the initiative seems to be a happier and healthier work force. Lori Wadsworth, a researcher at Brigham Young University, surveyed Utah workers who’ve transitioned to the 4 by 10 schedule and found that 82 percent prefer it. And according to Wadsworth, “Utah employees actually show decreased health complaints, less stress, and fewer sick days.” And while absenteeism has dropped, productivity and quality of service have improved — customer complaints, for example, at state agencies like the Department of Motor Vehicles are down. Early evidence seems to quell the initial fears that 10-hour workdays would “burn out” employees.
As budgets of all organizations, public and private, continually struggle in these uncertain economic times, we must think creatively and work smarter. New approaches like Utah’s need to be tried and studied. And those approaches that prove to be successful need to be implemented universally for the collective good of all. Utah’s initiative may not be the best thing for the T.G.I. Friday’s restaurant chain, but could be the new norm for the everyday worker.
On behalf of all workers everywhere, I say T.G.I. Thursday!
Brian Anderson is president and CEO of the Dalton-Whitfield Chamber of Commerce.
