Hey, I decree that civil servants must chill on Friday - Utah Governor Jon Huntsman
Starting next month, thousands of government employees will only work 4 days per week, in an effort aimed at reducing energy costs and commuters’ gasoline expenses.
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Starting next month, it will be “TGIT” for Utah state employees. As in: “Thank God It’s Thursday.”
In a yearlong experiment aimed at reducing the state’s energy costs and commuters’ gasoline expenses, Utah is about to become the first state to switch to a four-day workweek for thousands of government employees.
They will put in 10-hour days, Monday through Thursday, and have Fridays off, freeing them to golf, shop, spend time with the kids or do anything else that strikes their fancy. They will get paid the same as before.
Summary
- yearlong experiment aimed at reducing the state’s energy costs and commuters’ gasoline expenses, Utah is about to become the first state to switch to a four-day workweek
- Golf courses expected to benefit greatly from the extra free time
- Republican Gov. Jon Huntsman’s order will affect about 17,000 out of 24,000 executive-branch employees.
- Turning off the lights, the heat and the air conditioning on Fridays in 1,000 of 3,000 government buildings will save about $3 million a year out of a state budget of $11 billion
- many states are looking at cost-saving measures, including expanded telecommuting, compressed workweeks and more flexible schedules.
Old ideas, revived in an era of new relevance…bring on the “new normal.” Kudos to another Republican for grabbing another low hanging fruit! I wonder if Mr. Huntsman stole this idea from the Work Less Party manifesto?
