Workers shifting to 4-day week to save gasoline

[RamboLiberal]

Source: Reuters

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.

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"I didn't want to lose people," Vaughan said of the program, which more than half of his 19 employees began last week. "In rural areas like we are, gas price increases are more challenging because we don't have the mass transit alternative -- we can't jump on a bus or take a train."

Eventually, Vaughan hopes to close the office one day a week, further reducing energy costs.


Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSN2937323620080529?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews&rpc=22&sp=true

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I wish my office would switch to 4 day weeks or allow us to telecommute.

[Skittles]

1. I work 3 or 4 night weeks

alas, I get called in a lot on my days off so it's more like 4 and 5 nights of 12 hour shifts

[DUlover2909]

2. It's good to see people making adaptations.

Use less gas and the oil bigshots lose.

[Angleae]

3. We've been doing this for years

I believe is was in 2000 we switched over to a 4x10 shift for all mechanics (about 1000 of us), the 3 day weekend is very nice

[Blue Gardener]

4. I would jump at the chance

If I had the option.

[ixion]

5. everyone who is able to should be telecommuting now

that would save oodles of gas. It's a paradigm shift that companies have been over-all hesitant to allow, but it needs to happen sooner rather than later. It saves time, lives, money, gas and so on.