A surge in gasoline prices is forcing many to rethink their daily commute to work.
Some private employers as well as local governments are offering a four-day week as a perk that eliminates two commutes a week. In the automaking heartland, the shorter workweek offers employers a way of rewarding employees when the budget does not allow a salary increase.
According to staffing service company Robert Half, some 44 percent of respondents have changed the way they commute — from sharing a ride to driving a more fuel-efficient car. Others are working from home or looking for a closer job in order to reduce costs.
What measures are you taking to reduce your commuting times?
For full coverage of rising oil prices, click here .
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What about holidays? My boss wants us to work four, 10-hour days, Tuesday-Friday and said that we would lose any of the holidays that fall on a Monday! Is that fair?! Which means, we would work 40 hours a week, every week if there is a Monday holiday. If a holiday fell on Tuesday - Friday, then we would get that one off. We only get three personal days a year now that we have to take in either 4 hr or 8 hr increments and only 2 weeks vacation that must be requested 6 months in advance! I say stick wtih the five, 8hr days no not get ripped off!!! We are only an insurance office-it’s not like we’re out there to change the world! Anxious to see what others think!
- Posted by Samwhat about moving closer to your job ?
- Posted by MartinsFour day work weeks would help a lot. I live in a very rural area where we don’t have the option of public transportation and therefore don’t have any choice but to pay the high gas prices to get to and from. Changing jobs in this area is also not an option as our unemployment rate is one of the highest in the nation.
The extra day off would give time for canning and preserving the food I am growing . . . can’t afford gas and can’t afford the higher food prices.
- Posted by DebI think this would be a great national effort if it could be implemented. America could add to the list of things we are doing to help the environment and going green. Our companies have variuos divisions and some may not be able to participate fully, but most could shuffle schedules to have full week coverage. Not only would this save money and fuel for the affected employee’s it would also save companies on energy and other resource costs…. all in all this sounds like a win-win.
- Posted by Brian O'ConnorOh yes please. More quality time with the family, if no family, more time to do volunteer work, to help those less fortunate. More time to enjoy life. Business would have to employ more people, people are more likely to be more productive at work, because they’re likely to be less stressed, tired etc. All hail the long weekend!
- Posted by Conscientious ObserverI couldn’t agree with you more, Ann. God Bless America!
- Posted by Michelle MalkinI love this idea. While some occupations (particularly service industries) cannot wholly participate in this, I think most corporations would see an increase in productivity and morale if they allowed their employees to come in four days a week. 10 hours a day is not much longer than 8 (especially if you consider the added time saver that you’re only taking four lunch breaks a week, as opposed to five), and I would heartily recommend this to everyone who can viably do it.
http://booksandsuits.wordpress.com/
- Posted by Books and Suits[...] said the four-day work week could result in big savings in power and fuel costs for government …Who wants a 4-day work week?Reuters - May 29, 2008Others are working from home or looking for a closer job in order to [...]
- Posted by zombix : Äetverodnevni radni tjedan i "Causal (topless) Friday"Once worked in R&D where we tried 4 - 10hr days; it was more like 4 - 8hr days, we were beat and fell behind other areas, like real life. Discontinued after two months by popular demand.
Now I’m a remote employee w home office. I don’t like $60 for a fill up but it’s only every two weeks.
- Posted by Jorge[...] Who wants a 4-day work week? [...]
- Posted by It really doesn’t pay to commute « Anarchy In The AKThis is a great idea, and we should support it. is great for the environment, is great for our budget, and traffic !
- Posted by Michael BensonI pray to Bush and Jesus that the price drops.
- Posted by Ann CoulterAs a single mom, I told my boss no to this option. Ten hour days make it way too much. I do have the flexibility to telecommute one day per week so that makes life and gas expenses much, much better.
- Posted by Heather4-day work week will not change anything. On the fifth day, the people who have the day off will spend it driving around to do their chores and leisure activities, so they may end up driving more than their commute is.
- Posted by Joe BrownThe fact is, $4 gas is still cheap.
Just look around, traffic everywhere. For instance, our neighbors work for the same company in the same location, yet they still drive individual cars to get there and back. And look how many people still drive several miles to the 7-11 store just to buy a pack of cigarettes.
Let’s move on to a 2 day work week. 20 hours a day would be cool with me. My current job says to work 40 hours a week any way possible without going over 12 hours a day. I love it. 3 1/2 days of work. 3 days really, if its slow.
- Posted by JosephBTHIS WOULD BE GREAT! SAVE ON GAS AND HAVE MORE FREE TIME. I WOULD MUCH RATHER WORK 4 TEN HOUR DAYS THAN 5 EIGHT HOUR DAYS. I AM SPENDING ABOUT $100 A WEEK ON GAS, SO THIS WOULD DEFINITLEY HELP.
- Posted by MICHAEL MORETTII’ve been riding my donkey to work.
- Posted by John ForrestThankfully, I already work a four day work-week. It’s a 30 mile drive to the Navy testing-range I work at, and have to put premium in my car. I’m in southern California, and prices are sky high!
- Posted by FrankI’ve quit my job.
- Posted by Abraham LebowitzI think this would be a great idea. Something will have to give. I am a school teacher and we are underpaid already.
- Posted by J. T. LawsonJ. T.