Why The Four-Day Workweek Could Be Good For The Environment

Think Progress:

The traditional 40-hour workweek is composed of five eight-hour days instead of four ten-hour days. But the historical reasons for that are fairly arbitrary, and trying to get firms to switch to a four-day workweek has long struck me as a relatively painless way to reduce gasoline consumption. Brad Plumer lets us know that the state of Utah actually tried this and had state employees take Friday off and work longer hours the other four days of the week. According to Scientific American the results were impressive

Read the whole story: Think Progress

Comments

[epiphany1234]

A 4 day week proven to be a GOOD thing?

Well then, count on NOT having it in America since this country only installs stupid policy.

[thundermummy]

I wish I had a 40 work week. I have work creep all the time into my home life.

[TXfemmom]

Thi should be done as much as possible for work places and SCHOOLS. Think of the money which could be saved on transportation alone. Of course, it could create problems for daycare for the children if the parents work and the children are off, but solutions could be found. Just starting up adn winding down takes a good part of the day, and having the longer days would permit the kids to have a long weekend every week, along with good many parents.

[SammyD]

Real progressive. Same study during the oil crisis in the 70's. Probably a different result this time as jobs will not be created to commute to this time around.

[CypressTree]

i would be so productive if I had that kind of setup. Our current "status quo" work-schedule is a nightmare.

[CaptainFailmore]

Looks like another post of mine has disappeared. I'll summarize:

Losing two hours of your free time each day might seem like you've taken a hit, but a three day weekend every week is glorious. The value of free time isn't just in the quantity, but when it happens, and having three consecutive days of time for housework and pleasure instead of two more hours a day during the work week is a vastly preferable option for all but the most cramped schedules.

Not only do you save gas money, wear and tear on your car, and possibly hours of transit time, you can do the week's chores and still have two whole days off, or take the whole weekend for a family trip or some other event two days isn't long enough for. Imagine being able to travel out of state more than once or twice a year. (Maybe every other weekend if money permits!)

This is off-topic, but I know I'd appreciate a day in Wisconsin, Minnesota, or South Carolina every month, or a long weekend at the Michigan or Erie shore. In winter, being able to spend a day, just a day, at Myrtle Beach would certainly brighten my spirits. It's a shame - We have fifty beautiful states in this union, but not even enough time to enjoy the ones we live in!

[EconPadawan]

On what moral grounds do conservatives base their h8tred for universal health care? By sheer definition alone their religion should tell them that it is morally wrong to deny health care based on socioeconomic status. Children who are born to poor parents should get the same health care as children who are born to rich parents. Explain this moral disconnect. I don't get it.

[EconPadawan]

ignore. wrong post.

[jan4insight]

But it's still a good post - I've wondered the same thing many times.

[curiousasheck]

So your asking Americas corporate behemoths and their wannabe offsprings to figure out how to engage and profit from a four day work week principle?

These are people who believe that life is about "competition" how do you change that mindset other then waiting for another 2500 years till responsible capitalism can evolve?

[Mikeeee]

This has been studied to death. It should be mandatory everywhere. Of course there has to be exceptions, but they should be exactly that "exceptions" not the rule.

[thehoopoe]

duh. 4 day work week is better for everyone.

[forpeace]

Some people have difficulty with their job performance .......... if they have to work 10-12 hours a day, that is a fact.

[kcmookie]

hmm, think of it this way, they would only suck 4 days a week instead of 5. Now thats an improvement!

[forpeace]

How about No-Day Workweek?!

[Ness27]

I work 4 days a week on the first week and 3 days on the next week for 12 hours a day. I absolutely love my schedule. I get long weekends and I keep the same amount of work hours. I get a lot of time to run errands that I can't do on the weekends since most places are closed. I don't have to use my personal days on doctor appointments.

[humuhumunukunukuapuaa]

Some of my construction contractors already work "Four Tens" and take every Friday off. Their work is as good as my other contractors who work regular hours and they can keep with the schedule too. I would love it if my bosses decided to change our office to four tens too.

[apoyo]

One option could be to stagger people's schedules so the business doesn't have to shut down one extra day a week. Some could take Mondays off, some Fridays, my personal preference would be Wednesdays off. Work 2 days, break, work 2 days, long break.

It would reduce cars on the road, decrease pollution, carbon emissions, make people more rested and even more creative.

[TXfemmom]

This defeats the purpose of not having to have lights, air-conditioning or heating costs on the extra day, or at least not in the normal amounts.