Resolution Will Broach Four-Day Work Week Concept

State Rep. Jesse White on Wednesday said he intends to introduce two House resolutions to explore the possible cost-saving benefits of implementing a four-day work week for state employees and public school districts.

"My legislation would commission a study to see if there is any merit to a four-day week, and carefully weigh all the positives and negatives,” White, D-Cecil, said. "We may find that a condensed week is not feasible, but I think it's important to have facts before ruling out these options."

H.R. 202 would also direct the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to investigate the benefits and challenges of moving public school districts to a four-day school week schedule.

"The current budget plan cuts nearly $1 billion in state funding for public education while essentially leaving homeowners to supplement those cuts with higher property taxes," White said. "So it's time to get innovative and see if we can make better use our resources."

The lawmaker said the study would examine how utilities, transportation, food service, teacher and staff salaries, labor contracts, retirement and pension benefits, and relevant legal considerations would be effected by such a change.

The study would also identify the advantages and disadvantages for students, teachers, parents, administrators, staff and the community. 

White's other resolution, H.R. 334, would direct the Joint State Government Commission to conduct a study on the fiscal, environmental and public impact of a condensed, 10-hour per day work week for state employees.

"A condensed work schedule could reduce energy consumption and operating costs incurred to run Commonwealth buildings," he said. "An extended-hour work day would also make state government services more accessible to working taxpayers who cannot visit the offices during typical working hours."

And he said similar measures have been successful in other states.

According to White, Utah was the first state to move to a 10-hour-a-day, four-day work week in 2008—and a study found the state saved more than $6.25 million in energy costs. The change also reduced the government’s overall energy consumption by 10.5 percent. 

Since then, he added, several other states (such as Arizona, Illinois, Oklahoma and West Virginia) have conducted studies and considered legislation to enact alternative work schedules as cost saving measures.