Surging energy costs have prompted governments around the country — including Colorado’s state government — to take a fresh look at the economies of a four-day work week.
We think it’s an idea worth exploring, not only because it would cut down on state utility expenses, but it also would ease inflationary pressures on workers by saving them a day’s worth of commuting costs each week.
The state of Utah is estimating it will save $3 million out of an $11 billion state budget when it goes to a four-day week.
As prices rise and revenues — both worker wages and state revenues — stagnate, every bit helps.
The key question is whether the state can effectively conduct business in four longer days, because if it cannot, then the savings are for naught.
The first question is a cultural one.
Will those who are accustomed to an eight-hour day work effectively for an additional two hours each day? That’s a pretty long day.
If productivity drops, then it’s clear that a four-day work week would be a bust and could actually hurt taxpayers instead of help them.
Another question centers on customer service. Would the state effectively be able to serve the people who do business with state government or seek assistance from the state on a shorter work week?
It might be useful to constituents to have longer hours each day to attempt to access state government, but would one less day a week cause a serious imposition? That probably is best answered on a department- by-department basis.
The four-day work week is being enacted by Utah, with the aforementioned expected savings. The idea has caught fire, and is being considered in New Hampshire, Hawaii, Montana and New Mexico.
Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano also is pondering it. She has ordered a study of the pros and cons of such a switch, which seems like a prudent approach.
A few municipalities in Colorado also are considering it.
In Colorado, state Rep. Don Marostica, R-Loveland, said he planned to propose legislation next year to make such a change.
Marostica makes good points in saying the move could ease traffic and greenhouse gas emissions and could save on road maintenance work.
The state employs 51,000 people, most of whom work in Denver. Take that many people off the road for a day and it’s going to have an impact.
Just think of those days when the state has a holiday and everyone else has to work. Light-rail parking lots are open and roadways are less congested.
The question becomes quantifying that impact.
The governor’s office, it seems, is interested in the idea and is looking into it.
We hope any such evaluation would address issues of access to state offices, worker productivity and potential savings, both for the state and its employees.
The four-day work week seems like it has potential, but a closer look and a public discussion is warranted before any such change is made.
