Posted on 04/28/2008 12:56:23 PM PDT by llevrok
SEATTLE - Mike Cummings believes that for more and more of us, our sentence is "commuting."
Working four days instead of five would mean 20 percent fewer trips to and from work, reducing oil consumption by an estimated 40 percent.
"When I came here I looked at the traffic on I-5 and thought to myself, 'Everybody who does that is out of their mind' and then I ended up being one of them," he said.
So now Mike, a sheet metal contractor, has enlisted in a growing movement to change the way America does business.
Whenever possible he and his men work four-day weeks - 10 hour shifts - as a way to cut costs, reduce pollution and congestion.
"It would be astronomical what states, the federal government and the nation and the world could save on energy consumption, pollution traffic congestion and everything else," he said.
Whenever possible, Mike Cummings and his men work four-day weeks as a way to cut costs, reduce pollution and congestion.
The idea isn't new one. The oil crisis of the 1970s prompted some employers to switch to a four-day work week, but the idea never took hold nationally.
These days, though, energy and congestion issues may give the concept more traction. Several petition drives for a shortened work week are now circulating on the Internet.
A handful of cities in Nevada, California and Arizona are experimenting with the idea.
The state of West Virginia is considering a four-day week for government workers there.
Working four days instead of five would mean 20 percent fewer trips to and from work, reducing gasoline consumption by an estimated 65 million gallons per day, not to mention more time with family, and for Mike Cummings, a bit more hope for the future.
"I think this would help with a lot of the planet's problems, I think it would help with our oil problems and give them a little better life," he said.
Marion County Florida recently switched to a four-day work week for county workers. They expect to save $250,000 in energy costs this year alone.
What if you already work 5 “tens”?
Sign me up, I already work close to 10 hour days. I’ll take the freebie. ;)
Four tens would be great. Problem is some kinds of jobs it isn’t practical.
Old school Bosses will never go for that. Crap I work 10 hrs 5 times a week sometimes 6.
Telecommuting is a better option.
Most people I know are already working 5 Tens. It’s expected. Cutting the work week doesn’t lessen the amount of work that needs to be done. Still it’s one possible solution. They’d probably expect you to telecommute on the fifth day.
You’re a green dream, Gray.
Right. A company in my industry is known for its four-day work schedule, but nobody else in the industry wants to implement it because the senior people in that company always end up working five days anyway.
I used to work four 10s. Now I work four 11 or 12s. I love it! I’d rather work four 12 hour days than five 8 hour days. Three day weekends every week are awesome!
Well, as a soldier, my typical duty day lasts for about 10.5 hours. And I commute via a five-minute walk. Although if you take out personal hygiene and lunch time, that’s only 8 hours. But it was 9 hours today.
And we thank you for contributing...
The math is off a bit, but since so many take advantage of non-work days to drive to the mall anyway, the net saving would be zero or even worse.
Maybe not so much now but as more and more businesses become 7 day a week operations, 4 day work weeks could become practical.
“Working four days instead of five would mean 20 percent fewer trips to and from work, reducing oil consumption by an estimated 40 percent.”
Advanced math required?
Gee this would give us an extra day to drive to the Golf Course or some other recreational pursuit which would undoubtedly nullify any energy saving by not working 5 days a week
That’s great! Then there’ll be three days that I can drive to golf courses that aren’t on my way to work.
Is this Journalism math or something? Besides, the end consumers in the US do not consume the bulk of the petrtoleum. That would be the truckers.
Yeah! Next thing you know, we could start requiring employers to give six weeks of paid vacation a year. Then we could call ourselves “Germany.”
18 seconds? Queue up the twightlite Zone.
Wednesday would be "Golf Day."
Years ago, I worked 3 12’s. Graveyard on the weekends.
It was a bbuster. But Monday, at noon, I got off and didn’t have to go back till midnight Friday.
It was GREAT during the summer!
I did the four (4) tens back in the late 70’s, early 80’s and the only thing that was accomplished was being able to go to the bar and drink all day Friday, rather than waiting til 5 o’clock. Actually spent more money with that extra day off.
Me too, I dream of only working a 40 hour week.
Well, most people don’t.
I’ve been suggesting this (here on FR) for quite some time.
We also need more innovative mass transit. I read, in a comfortable seat, until my stop is announced, then walk no more than 3 city blocks to my destination. Rest, relaxation, mild exercise, saves money, gives less to OPEC.
I was working 6X12 when I crashed, and landed in the ER.
Dispatcher: “Seattle Fire Deparment”
Caller: “My house is on fire!”
Dispatcher: “I’m sorry but you’ll have to call back tomorrow. All of the firemen have Fridays off”
A 20% decrease in driving results in a 40% reduction?
Obviously this reporter has a Publik Skul ejamukashun.
I know, why don't we just chain up the average working man and woman to their jobs 24-7, that way they wouldn't have to drive at all, we could put their paychecks in an account for them and turn them loose when they were 65 and hand over their trust accounts, minus room, board and special government work taxes!/SAR
or 6 for the past 4 months...!
Journalist Math or Liberal Math - basically coming up with the same unrealist static results. They never take into consideration the dynamics of changes like this. I’m like others here, I’d use the extra day off to go somewhere that would consume more gas. As it is, I’m looking into telecommuting and just salivating on where I can use that saved gas when I’m done for the day.
A girl her changed her hours to miss traffic and she is saving a lot more gas.
Yup, and since they would have a 3-day weekend they could drive 400 miles for camping, skiing, etc, and use even more gas!!
Brilliant!
Says it all!
As tens of millions in all of the cities commute in bumper to bumper traffic, just to get to their cubicles to sit and use a computer and keyboard.... When they could do this at home!!
Can anyone imagine what this would do for fuel prices, not to mention how this would piss off the A-rabs and others that are making a fortune selling fuel?
I hear you. Its a slow week if I’m only working 16 hour days 6-7 days a week. Only 3 and a half more years until I’m a civilian again and can dream of 40 hour weeks.
Does this guy actually think that nobody else has ever thought of this ? ALL the contractors I know already do this - you’d have to be stupid not to, if you have jobs that are any distance away.
Says it all!
As tens of millions in all of the cities commute in bumper to bumper traffic, just to get to their cubicles to sit and use a computer and keyboard.... When they could do this at home!!
Can anyone imagine what this would do for fuel prices, not to mention how this would piss off the A-rabs and others that are making a fortune selling fuel?
IN ADDITION, this would reduce traffic enormously all across this country. Those that had to use trucks and cars for their jobs would be using much less fuel, and their productivity time would also increase dramatically.
Then why don't we just work 2 days. Because if we save 40% of gas a day, that'd be 120%. That must mean that we'd be exporting gas or something. I just don't follow this guy's math....
And what about weekends? Where I live, lots of people drive on the weekends. And what about the wife? My wife drives the kids around. And school buses? And trucks? And heating oil? And public transportation? And taxis? Somehow, I don't think driving 4 days instead of 5 would lead to an even 20% savings.
If we treat you as the liberals would like, then you actually deserve a gas rebate check!
We’ll call it an economic stimulus incetive.
You hit the nail on the head Sybeck1. The fact is that very few Americans now work the traditional ole 8 hr’s/day, 5 days per week schedule. Besides, I have managed compressed work weeks (4 days on, 3 days off, 3 days on, 4 days off, and other variations) and managers and those who possess critical skills find themselves working 7 days per week. Also, those who "are" able to work the compressed work schedule often use the extra days off to go find themselves other work to supplement their income. Others use the time to do do things that require burning gas which is nearly everything. Although I am using a compressed workweek as my example, the same scenarios would apply to the 4/10 workweek. Btw, I am not against this if it makes folks happy. I just don't believe that from a practical point of view there are any savings in this scheme.
Using Nancy P math - like gas was a dollar something??
Bingo!
Says it all!
As tens of millions in all of the cities commute in bumper to bumper traffic, just to get to their cubicles to sit and use a computer and keyboard.... When they could do this at home!!
Can anyone imagine what this would do for fuel prices, not to mention how this would piss off the A-rabs and others that are making a fortune selling fuel?
IN ADDITION, this would reduce traffic enormously all across this country. Those that had to use trucks and cars for their jobs would be using much less fuel, and their productivity time would also increase dramatically. I'll go one step further.
If our government is so concerned about energy, and global warming, the environment etc,...In addition to the middle class is now being hammered by these fuel prices, why would government not mandate that these millions that commute every day just to sit at a computer and use a keyboard, telecommute?
The government could offer tax incentives for every company that sends half or more of it's work force home to work.
We have the technology to do this. The big question is, why is our leadership not demanding this and work with all these companies to make this happen?
Think of the savings for road repairs, fuel costs, commute times, and what this would do to our A-rab enemies.
Of course, once your boss realizes that somebody can work from home, home can be half a world away.
great idea that way with 4 days I can drive to the beach or to the mountains. I can cruise the chicks. I can go see my mom in florida. I can....use a lot more gas!
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