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.
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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.
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