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High gas prices and a slack economy are sparking new notions about how and where people work. Few shifts seem more radical, however, than the rise of the four-day work week.

It’s an idea that rolls around whenever the economy softens. A decade ago, labour groups were promoting shorter work weeks, hoping it would spur more hiring. It didn’t catch on.

This time around, employers are adopting it to cut energy costs while giving employees an extra day off.

Chrysler is talking with the United Auto Workers to see if the idea is palatable. If approved, more than 10,000 Chrysler plant workers could start a four-day work week this fall. The proposal focuses on several American plants, though if successful, Chrysler would consider adopting it at the company’s Brampton, Ont., plant, Mr. Saenz said.

The advantage for the company is mainly reduced energy costs - the ability to shut down heavy machinery and equipment for three full days. Chrysler doesn’t expect the move would hurt productivity.

Utah, meantime, is the first U.S. state to make the move. It hopes to save $3-million (U.S.) a year in costs to heat, cool and light the state’s 1,000 buildings.

Its one-year test, involving about 17,000 workers who have moved to a 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday to Thursday shift, began Aug. 4.

Rex Facer and Lori Wadsworth of BYU’s Romney Institute of Public Management examined the outcome of a Utah city’s transition to a schedule in which most employees worked four 10-hour days a week. Their paper appears in the June issue of Review of Public Personnel Administration.

The research was conducted among Spanish Fork City employees, many of whom have four day work weeks. Salt Lake, West Valley, Provo, West Jordan and Draper are among other Utah cities which offer similar programs.

According to Facer, Utah cities embraced the new schedule to both save money on utilities and also to give citizens a wider range of times to access city hall. Now they are also reaping the morale and retention benefits among employees who save on fuel costs by commuting one fewer day each week.

BYU researchers found that even though four-day work week employees work the same number of hours per week as their traditional work-week counterparts, they reported being more satisfied with their jobs, compensation and benefits, and were less likely to look for employment elsewhere in the next year.

“I am hopeful that the state’s move to a four-day work week will be a positive one,” said Wadsworth. “There are going to be very real benefits for employees, specifically decreased gas cost, decreased commute time (both because they only have to commute four days, but also because they’ll be commuting during off-peak times, so the commute could potentially be shorter each day), and hopefully, improved work-life balance.”

Among the most significant findings was the four day work week’s connection to conflicts between work and home. The four-day work week employees were less likely to report that they come home too tired, that work takes away from personal interest, and that work takes time they would like to spend with family. Other studies have linked work-home conflict with low job performance and lessened productivity.

“The challenges of balancing work and home lives have become much more complex,” Facer said. “Finding ways to better manage work-family conflict is important in building stronger organizations and satisfied employee bases.”

Other findings in the study show:

• More than 60 percent of four day work week employees reported higher productivity as a result of the 4/10 schedule.

• More than 60 percent of employees reported agreement that citizen access has improved as a result of the four-day work week.

The four-day work week has enjoyed continued popularity across the country. Some of the recent cities and counties to implement or move closer to implementing a compressed work week for public employees are listed below.

Arizona: Queen’s Creek has implemented the 4-day week on a trial basis. The town’s government offices are open extended hours Monday through Thursday and, with the exception of essential services, are closed on Friday. The plan was initiated to boost employee morale at a time when many employees have been subject to salary reduction and hour cut-backs.

Florida: Manatee County has begun to make the switch to a 4-day work schedule on a voluntary basis, allowing its various agencies to make the decision independently. The Central Community Redevelopment Authority is the latest to implement the alternative schedule.

New Hampshire: New Hampshire’s gubernatorial candidates would consider authorizing a four-day work week and telecommuting for state workers to save energy costs. But Democrats John Lynch and Katy Forry and Republican Joseph Kenney would not support a blanket telecommuting policy for all.

New Mexico: Torrance County is considering switching to a 4-day, 10-hour workweek to help employees with the cost of fuel.

Pennsylvania: Westmoreland County officials are considering a proposal for a flexible scheduling system so staff could work four-day work weeks as a means of reducing their travel expenses. The Recorder of Deeds, Tom Murphy, who pitched the compressed-week idea, says he was motivated by hearing his employees talk about the price of fuel and how it affects their bottom line.

Tennessee: Tennessee will follow in the footsteps of Utah on Monday, August 3, 2008, when it implements a four-day workweek for all state employees. Unlike Utah, though, Tennessee’s program is voluntary.

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