It’s Official: The 4-Day Week Works
A year ago, Utah’s governor instituted a 4-day, 10-hour-a-day workweek for some 17,000 state employees—and the results so far show big benefits, GOOD reports:
- Closed offices on Fridays have cut energy use by 13% and reduced the state’s carbon footprint by some 6,000 metric tons—and that doesn’t even count the gas saved through fewer commutes.
- There’s less traffic with people commuting at different times, or, on Fridays, not at all. That means less air pollution for drivers.
- After 9 months of the program, the state had saved $1.8 million in operational costs.
- A survey showed that 82% of workers like the new schedule more than the five-day scheme and “show decreased health complaints, less stress, and fewer sick days.” Meanwhile, “productivity and quality of service” are up, writes Ben Jervey.
(via: newser)
