Stephenson Critical of Four Day Workweek

Aug 05, 2008 by Eric Ray

(KCPW News) Critics of the state's new four-day workweek say the schedule does a disservice to the people state offices are supposed to serve.

"Most government involvement with the public, times when the public has to go to a government office, is a mandate. And if they fail to go to the government office and conduct the business, in some cases they can suffer penalties, fines, and even imprisonment," says Howard Stephenson, President of the Utah Taxpayers Association. "When government is requiring the public to engage with a government office, it ought to be convenient for the public and not just for the workers."

Stephenson says state offices should be open 10 hours a day, five days a week, allowing employees to work a five-day week or take one day off during the week.

Under this plan, Stephenson says those choosing to work just four days will conserve energy by cutting 20% of their weekly commute. However, he says in the overall scheme, there is no evidence that shutting down state offices actually saves energy.

"Because it isn't offset in the analysis by the increased consumption of energy of the employees who are doing other things. Whether it's at home and turning off the energy saving on their thermostat and now heating or cooling their homes more than they would have. Or whether it's taking more trips to different places for recreation or other activities," says Stephenson.

Stephenson, who represents Salt Lake County in the state Senate, says Governor Jon Huntsman and the Legislature need to closely scrutinize the four-day workweek.

Click here to read Stephenson's column in The Utah Taxpayer.

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