Workers shifting to 4-day week to save gasoline

Reuters, via Yahoo!:



Workers shifting to 4-day week to save gasoline
By Andrea Hopkins
Thu May 29, 4:07 PM ET



CINCINNATI (Reuters) - When Ohio's Kent State University offered custodial staff the option of working four days a week instead of five to cut commuting costs, most jumped at the chance, part of a U.S. trend aimed at combating soaring gasoline prices.

"We offered it to 94 employees and 78 have taken us up on it," said university spokesman Scott Rainone.

The reason is simple: rising gas prices and a desire to retain good workers. And while so far only the university's custodians are eligible, Rainone hopes the option will be offered to all departments -- including his own.

"In our office, we have people who travel anywhere from five or six miles to a couple who are on the road 45 to 50 minutes," Rainone said. "As the price of gas rises, the level of grumbling rises."

Regular gasoline averages $3.94 a gallon in the United States, up 33 cents in the past month and 88 cents since the beginning of the year, the Energy Information Administration said this week.

The federal government has offered four-day workweeks to eligible employees for years as part of a flexible work program that also includes telecommuting.

But the surge in gasoline prices is pushing more private employers as well as local governments to offer a four-day week as a perk that eliminates two commutes a week. ......(more)

The complete piece is at: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080529/ts_nm/usa_workweek_dc

now. But now they're sneaking in extra days. :eyes:

and cut their massive fuel costs by a sixth.

.....although it might result in layoffs.

and the average age of employees in his office is around fifty. They anticipate about 12 out a total of 62 people will retire in the next few years. These are common numbers nationwide. With declining mail volume, and a switch to five day, there would still likely be no net losses due to attrition.

It gives him and his crew time for camping and spending time with the family. Although, you know, it does sound an awful lot like those cheese eating French.