The effects of higher energy prices are beginning to change the way U.S. institutions and employees think about work.
Three New Hampshire municipalities are shifting some employees to less energy intensive, four-day work weeks on a trial basis, accoring to a report on Boston.com.
Sudbury, Winchester and Concord, New Hampshire join numerous other U.S. cities experimenting with 10-hour work days and a three day weekend to save on energy costs.
Rex L. Facer, an assistant professor of public finance and management at Brigham Young University, has been studying four-day workweeks since 2004, and said about a sixth of US cities are on a four-day schedule.
"They’ve found that by only being open four days a week they can save substantial amounts on the utility costs: on heating, lighting their buildings," Facer said.
However, the article suggests that energy savings, smaller carbon footprints and reduced commuting for employees aren’t likely to win over private businesses anytime soon.
However, if companies start losing employees, that could change. Companies that have switched to four-day workweeks generally have done so as an employee-retention initiative.
A new study conducted by BusinessWeek Research Services shows that 26% of employees are considering changing jobs to improve their commutes, which have been negatively affected by rising fuel prices and worsening traffic.
The report also shows that 48% of employees say their commutes are getting worse, and 65% expect their employers to take the lead in easing the difficulties of commuting.
So perhaps the four-day work week isn’t so far-fetched for corporate America after all.
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