Monday, June 16, 2008

Shorter Workweek & Four-Day Workweek are not Necessarily the Same

Now that gas has topped $4.00 per gallon in many cities across the country, several companies are trying out a four-day workweek to help their employees save gas. A lot of people believe that a four-day workweek equals a shorter workweek. This isn't necessarily true. A shorter workweek is a workweek LESS than 40 hours, whether it is 5 days, 4 days, 3 days, etc. A four-day workweek can also be 40 hours per week, and in this case, it is called a COMPRESSED workweek. A compressed workweek can be very stressful, since each day worked consists of at least 10 hours. This makes your day around 14 hours (or longer) from the time you get up until the time you get home. A ten-hour work day is very grueling for anyone; however, it is especially difficult if a you have children, parents or pets to care for.

People for a Shorter Workweek advocates a SHORTER workweek of LESS than 40 hours per week, AND to help save gas and keep fewer cars on the road, PSW would like to see a workweek of 4 days or less, and no more than 32 hours per week.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I am all for working 4 days of 8.5 hours - then we are putting in 34 hours and could then truly spend time with our families without exhausing ourselves. If I had to work 4 - 10 hour days then I would need the day off to mentally recuperate.

Also, how about working the 5 days, but only 7.5 hours. If the schedules were staggared out then there would be less traffic congestion and we could get a little "green" affect as well.

Mike Ballard said...

Seeing that output per hour of labour has increased through automation and education some 400% since the eight hour day was finally legistated back in the 1940s, I'd suggest three 8hour days for a work week.