In an effort to reduce energy consumption, some States are reducing the work week to be only 4 days long. Instead of 5 8-hour days, the new system will adopt 4 10-hour work days. This will allow the buildings to be shut down on fridays, reducing energy consumption for lights, computers, and heat.

The lights and computers still need to be on 40 hours a week. How does this reduce power consumption? People still have their computers on for 40 hours per week.

“However, employees often came to work on Fridays and volatile temperatures and energy prices made reaching the goal increasingly difficult.”

Looks like workers are also less efficient in a 10 hour day, causing them to have to come into work on Fridays IN ADDITION to their 4 10-hour days. This would actually drive up energy consumption, as the building have to be running MORE than 40 hours a week.

“Gregoire hopes to see energy savings, happier workers and fewer commute trips.”

Why try and disguise this? Just state it like it is. The Government feels that Government employees are overworked, underpaid, and underappreciated. Hopefully 3 day weekends will help ease the suffering.

http://www.environmentalleader.com/2009/01/23/utahs-four-day-workweek-falls-short-of-savings-goal/

http://news.opb.org/article/3021-wa-gov-announces-4-day-work-week-pilot/