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<< Previous   of   Next >>   ADVERTISEMENT   CONTACT THE HERALD Robert Frank, City Editor frank@heraldnet.com   Published: Friday, October 10, 2008 A four-day workweek has its benefits By Julie Muhlstein Herald Columnist Twenty-one years ago, I talked my boss into a four-day workweek. It lasted one year, the year my older son was born. Officially, I worked 32 hours a week -- four eight-hour days. Along with reduced hours and pay, my benefits were also reduced. As much as I relished Mondays off, I didn't push for permanent four-day weeks. Almost invariably, I ended up working more than eight hours each day. By choice, back in 1987, I returned to full-time work, with its compensatory paycheck and benefits. Two decades later, shorter weeks are being embraced for reasons beyond balancing career and home life. Washington is the latest government employer trying a truncated workweek, although on a smaller scale than Utah. That state switched most workers to four 10-hour days in August. The aims are saving energy and taxpayer dollars. If workers are happier, that's a bonus. On Sept. 10, Gov. Chris Gregoire announced a test program switching about 650 state workers to four 10-hour days per week. Most work in Olympia, in three state departments: Veterans Affairs, Community Trade and Economic ­Development, and Archaeology and Historic Preservation. While some workers jumped right away into the new schedule, this is the first official week. For many state workers, today is their first Friday off, the start of many three-day weekends. "The first thing they think is, 'Oh, I get Fridays off,' " said Zee Hill, administrative assistant at the Archaeology and Historic Preservation Department in Olympia. A Web site for the Department of Veterans Affairs has a prominent announcement of new hours: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and "Friday -- closed." "I joked with one lady this morning that she already looked tired, but she was smiling," April Harris said Wednesday. Harris is executive assistant to Veterans Affairs Director John Lee. She said the agency's central office is the only part of the department adjusting hours. "The staff is in this one building, 65 people," she said. Along with saving energy and altering commutes to less crowded times, Harris said the switch helps customers. "It's a real benefit, being open 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.," she said. "Many veterans might want to come in but don't want to take time off work." The lifestyle change is a plus for many families. Harris expects workers will schedule doctor appointments for Fridays, sparing their vacation or sick days. A regular weekday off also gives parents time to volunteer at schools. At the same time, the change brings complications, especially those who pick up kids from child care. At least two people in Hill's department are sticking with five-day weeks, working eight-hour days and telecommuting from home on Fridays. Productivity? Hill said some are accomplishing more. "If they have to go into the field, a 10-hour day is much easier to get things done," she said. "With extended hours four days a week, everybody is working at a pretty good clip," said Wendy Pugnetti, communications director at the state Department of Community Trade and Economic Development. For Pugnetti, working long hours isn't unusual. Even so, she said, "I did walk out the door at 6:30 Tuesday and thought, I'm halfway through the week." Rather than working directly with the public, Pugnetti said her department works more with other government agencies. "We've worked hard to communicate the hours to our customers," she said. Some workers have been on the four-day schedule awhile, Pugnetti said. "One employee said he painted his house on Fridays. We'll see how many houses get painted," she said. In Utah, a spokeswoman for Gov. John Huntsman told the Los Angeles Times in July that shutting off power, heat and air conditioning on Fridays will save about $3 million per year. "As long as they pay us, I don't care," said Hill, of Washington's Department of Archaeology and Historical Preservation. "Forty hours of work is 40 hours of work." Can we get that etched in stone? I worry about the cost-cutting trend, particularly about hours being cut below levels that qualify workers for benefits. Years ago, I did that voluntarily. Let's not mandate keeping workers below the benefits line. That's a trend we shouldn't embrace. Columnist Julie Muhlstein: 425-339-3460 or muhlstein@heraldnet.com. READER COMMENTS Be the first to comment. You must be a registered user and verify your e-mail address to post comments to blogs or articles on HeraldNet. To register, click here. To read other terms and conditions, click here. Log out

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