The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Local News

January 10, 2010

Can a four-day week work in West Virginia?

By Mannix Porterfield

CHARLESTON — Cutting state employees back to a four-day work week makes workers happier, guards the environment, allows more time for government services and saves energy — at least in Utah.

For some time now, West Virginia lawmakers have been eyeing the prospects of a 10-hour work day to save costs in state government.

So far, no such legislation has been advanced, so lawmakers Sunday were handed the results of studies performed on the experiment in Utah, which became the first state in 2008 to move to a four-day work week.

“Interesting” is how Delegate Jim Morgan, D-Cabell, a chairman of the House Committee on Government Organization, sized up the Utah study results.

By closing that state’s buildings on Friday, explained Brandon Burton, senior analyst for the Performance Evaluation and Research Division, Utah enjoyed an overall energy savings of 10.5 percent.

That translated into $502,000 less spent on energy, the study revealed.

Janitorial costs fell by $203,000, while state vehicles in Utah logged 3.1 million fewer miles in one fiscal year, or a savings of $1.4 million.

Thirty-nine percent of local governments found it tougher to do business with Utah because of the change, while 43 percent disagreed and 18 percent saw no change.

A survey of Utah’s state employees found that 75 percent in the executive branch preferred the shorter work week. In the survey period, Burton pointed out, the state saved $4.1 million in overtime costs.

Utah officials estimated the greenhouse emission reductions were the same as removing 999 cars from the road for an entire year.

What’s more, it was estimated the four-day week produced a savings of 523,980 gallons of gasoline, or $1.37 million based on the price of $2.62 per gallon.

Last month, Utah Gov. Gary Herbert extended the four-day week with some changes, notably in the operation of that state’s motor vehicle and driver licensing divisions.

— E-mail: mannix@register-herald.com

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