[Vision2020] [Bulk] Washington state tries 4-day week to save money

[Paul Rumelhart]

Close down the University for an extra day a week, and you are only 
heating or cooling offices to comfortable levels for four days of the 
week instead of five.  Lights on for longer each day, but for one fewer 
day during the week.  If you have an office where some people come in 
early and some people work later, then the electricity used during those 
four days doesn't change much.  You have four days worth of filling the 
trash cans and dirtying the bathrooms, instead of five, so you might not 
need quite as large of a janitorial staff. 

Employees that commute to work save a day's round-trip worth of gas each 
week.  If you commute farther than Moscow/Pullman, that adds up quick.

I'd also suggest that it can help morale.  You get a three-day weekend 
every week, and a four-day weekend for some holidays.  I'm on four tens 
right now in my job, and I love it.  The extra time spent at work during 
the day is a small price to pay for those three day weekends.

Today's my Friday.  I hope you all have a nice weekend.

Paul

Glenn Schwaller wrote:
>  "Feeling the pinch of soaring energy costs, and with a projected 
> budget deficit on the horizon . . .  (Govenor) Gregoire said Wednesday 
> officials would meet next week to work out how they'll implement the 
> planned four 10-hour days . . ."
>  
> Can someone explain how going to 4 10-hour work days is going to help 
> eliminate or even reduce by any margin whatsoever either the state 
> budget or energy cost / consumption ??? 
>  
> "Gregoire said the plan could help save money by cutting electric 
> consumption and janitorial costs at the offices, and could have side 
> benefits for the environment and traffic congestion by keeping some 
> commuters off the roads"   Uh huh.  The needle on my Acme Stooopid 
> Meter is all aquiver . . .
>  
> GS
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