Four-day work and/or school week (Full Version)

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Consecrated2God -> Four-day work and/or school week (8/25/2008 12:36:36 PM)

I've heard of companies and school districts going to a four-day week because of gas prices. Do you support or oppose this, and why? Have you experienced this, and if so, does it help? How would it affect you if your work and/or school went to a four-day week?



garsyt -> RE: Four-day work and/or school week (8/25/2008 12:57:42 PM)

It would be fine for me - but I'm a stay at home mom and would be available for my kids if my hubby is working. And it's not only because of gas prices but of utility prices of keeping businesses and schools open a 5th day. Here in NE Indiana I think the street department and county road departments are currently working on a 4 day week until the snow flies and plowing becomes necessary. I guess from what I'm hearing those departments are seeing a definite savings in fuel and wear and tear on their county trucks.

I'm not so thrilled about extending the already long day my kids have a school by more then a half hour to 45 minutes tops, because that means my little ones could be getting home, if they went an hour longer a day, after 5 PM and that doesn't leave much time for after school activities, sports, meals, homework and still getting to bed at a decent hour. BUT I would rather go to a 4 day week and KEEP bussing then continue with a 5 day week and lose it.

Blessings,

Garsy



Consecrated2God -> RE: Four-day work and/or school week (8/25/2008 1:02:55 PM)

Some of the bus drivers in our church said they'd have to go longer during the year because they'd still need to make 180 days to conform to Indiana laws. Would they have to have 180 days if they went longer each day? Or would they have to go longer each day if they still had 180 days?



kernsfamily -> RE: Four-day work and/or school week (8/25/2008 1:10:01 PM)

As I mentioned in the other thread when this was mentioned, my company is seriously looking into this. It's a "benefit" that they can offer employees, but, doesn't really 'cost' the company anything to offer. They still get 40+ hours of time from us...just configured a bit differently. A number of employees (not just me), live a substantial distance from the office. Being here in Fort Worth, there are many who live in the small towns outside of the city....some live right out in the "middle of nowhere"....Iam sure they would welcome one less day to drive to work, as well.

The company is currently going through each department, and talking with us to make sure there are no "logistical" issues with doing this kind of thing.

Since I live 35 or so miles away from the office, sure, the gas saving is a plus. BUT, to me, it's more than that. It's being able to stay home ONE extra day. Get things done during the week, instead of cramming it in during the weekends (my wife IS a stay-at-home mom, but, even SHE can only do so much)....and, there's definitely things that I would rather do myself........and, because of the distance, I NEVER get to do lunch with my wife....we could catch an early-afternoon movie.....all that sort of stuff.....it'd be like having another day to the weekend...but the kids will be in school.....

actually, i have already mentioned to our work group that I would take WEDNESDAYS off....not only a good day for golf, but, Iam always meeting my wife with the kids at church on wednesday nights for dinner after children's choir/AWANA and all that. Very hectic. It would make it a lot easier if I were there when they got home from school, and we all go to church together....instead of having 2 cars there and everything.....(work 2 days...off a day...work 2 more days).....

will be interesting to see IF this happens,.....and WHEN.....



garsyt -> RE: Four-day work and/or school week (8/25/2008 1:10:43 PM)

It would almost take a decision at the state level to go to HOURS of instruction instead of DAYS. If they still had to go 180 days it really wouldn't be a savings of any sort really, now would it?[;)] Plus then they'd have all the homeschoolers in the state up in arms too! [;)]

Blessings



landabee -> RE: Four-day work and/or school week (8/25/2008 1:11:01 PM)

I support the four day work week. Our company experimented with it for the greater part of last year.

We found that in addition to saving the company energy costs, the workers' morale improved and they utilized less sick days.

Our company (college) was featured in a story on CNN due to our four day work day.

CNN Story few weeks ago.

I work hard four days....and can depend on Friday off to do home work, house work, run errands or make private appointments. Most Fridays I conscientiously PARK the car and do not move it.

It has helped with gas immensely, as until two weeks ago I traveled to a campus 13 miles away to work.

Praise God, now I work on the campus closer to home. It's only a 4 mile drive. [:)]



kernsfamily -> RE: Four-day work and/or school week (8/25/2008 1:27:07 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: garsyt

It would almost take a decision at the state level to go to HOURS of instruction instead of DAYS. If they still had to go 180 days it really wouldn't be a savings of any sort really, now would it?[;)] Plus then they'd have all the homeschoolers in the state up in arms too! [;)]

Blessings


around here, I have NEVER heard anyone suggest that schools go to 4-day weeks....

but, I guess that has come up elsewhere.



Starbucks880 -> RE: Four-day work and/or school week (8/25/2008 1:30:15 PM)

They are experimenting with that where my husband works and it is working well. They have found that it is working well. Besides saving money in overhead costs, the workers are happier and they have one more day off. My husband has a pretty long commute, so it saves him the headache of sitting in rush hour traffic and it saves gas money. And to mention it again for emphasis: One more day off. I wish I had something like that at the hospital, but that type of schedule will never work since we are always shorthanded as is, so the schedules might as well be written in pencil.



Consecrated2God -> RE: Four-day work and/or school week (8/25/2008 1:34:49 PM)

quote:

It would almost take a decision at the state level to go to HOURS of instruction instead of DAYS. If they still had to go 180 days it really wouldn't be a savings of any sort really, now would it? Plus then they'd have all the homeschoolers in the state up in arms too!


A four-day school week wouldn't affect the homeschoolers since we can do what we want anyway, but I did wonder what would happen to most people that work five days a week if the schools went to a four-day week. It might be a pain if they had to hire a sitter one day each week.



Jenny-Fair -> RE: Four-day work and/or school week (8/25/2008 4:04:48 PM)

Why would homeschoolers care if the PS went to four-day weeks?[8|]

In my state, you have to have 180 days, so they could not do that.



Jhud -> RE: Four-day work and/or school week (8/25/2008 4:15:35 PM)

My kids go to a school that has a four day week (and my wife works there, so she does too).



garsyt -> RE: Four-day work and/or school week (8/25/2008 4:18:35 PM)

Because if the State rule changed from 180 days to a set number of hours - and at least when I homeschooled the rule was that we had to have the same number of days as the public schooled kids. If that was changed to hours- that could very easily change the requirements for homeschoolers as well and then the State could require instead of keeping track of the number of days they could move to requiring homeschooling parents to keep track of hours of instruction like the public schools.

Of course if they went to 4 day weeks and still required 180 days I really don't think that would have the same effect of saving money which is what the goal is in the first place by going to longer days and 4 day weeks.

Blessings,

Garsy



Jenny-Fair -> RE: Four-day work and/or school week (8/25/2008 4:20:47 PM)

It wouldn't be anything like that here. We are supposed to have 180 days, but we don't have to turn in attendance records or anything, and the law specifically states that homeschooling is not the same as public schooling, and so an equal number of hours and experience is not expected.



garsyt -> RE: Four-day work and/or school week (8/25/2008 4:22:28 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Jhud

My kids go to a school that has a four day week (and my wife works there, so she does too).



Details, Jack?

How many days do they have to have? I know you are in Minnesota. Or is their school year based on hours of instructions? How long are their school days?

Blessings,

Garsy



Jhud -> RE: Four-day work and/or school week (8/25/2008 4:31:13 PM)

quote:

Details, Jack?

How many days do they have to have? I know you are in Minnesota. Or is their school year based on hours of instructions? How long are their school days?


They started this week - can't remember which week they end exactly, but we started a week earlier than regular schools (We are a charter). They go to school from 8:00 - 3:30.



garsyt -> RE: Four-day work and/or school week (8/25/2008 4:45:55 PM)

That answers my question a lot really.

I already know that schools in Minnesota (I have family all over the state) tend to take less breaks and have fewer days off then we do around here. PLUS your kids are in school a full hour longer then my kids.

One of these days Jack - when we are in Minnesota we'll have to get together! [;)]

Blessings,

Garsy



Miss Giggles -> RE: Four-day work and/or school week (8/25/2008 6:03:26 PM)

The government already allows 4 10 hour days or a rotating schedule in which you get one friday or monday off per pay period (2 weeks). I am a contractor and we wouldn't be able to bill all the hours since were only their for 8

But it's a good idea. Our county offices switched to it but the employees rotate the days off to not close on Fridays.

As for schooling, it doesn't seem like they would go for it here due to all the sports, activities and after care that most of the kids are in.



solo_soprano22 -> RE: Four-day work and/or school week (8/25/2008 6:19:32 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Miss Giggles

The government already allows 4 10 hour days or a rotating schedule in which you get one friday or monday off per pay period (2 weeks). I am a contractor and we wouldn't be able to bill all the hours since were only their for 8

But it's a good idea. Our county offices switched to it but the employees rotate the days off to not close on Fridays.

As for schooling, it doesn't seem like they would go for it here due to all the sports, activities and after care that most of the kids are in.


A local college is switching to the four-day schedule, but I think they just started this semester (classes haven't been in that long yet).



Miss Giggles -> RE: Four-day work and/or school week (8/25/2008 6:20:59 PM)

My colleges didn't schedule that many friday classes cause very few showed up. All the classes were m-th and if they met twice a week it was m-w or tue-thu

I meant elementary and middle schools though since they are more dependent on sitters and day care since it would depend on the parents work schedule.



solo_soprano22 -> RE: Four-day work and/or school week (8/25/2008 6:24:12 PM)

Yeah, it's like that at some universities around here. Unfortunately, at mine and a few others, we have MWF classes and TR (tues/thurs) classes. It doth stinketh. [8|] But every once in a while when no one shows up on Friday those who went got extra points. :) But there had to be a serious lack of attendance.



earthless -> RE: Four-day work and/or school week (8/25/2008 7:20:16 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Jhud

quote:

Details, Jack?

How many days do they have to have? I know you are in Minnesota. Or is their school year based on hours of instructions? How long are their school days?


They started this week - can't remember which week they end exactly, but we started a week earlier than regular schools (We are a charter). They go to school from 8:00 - 3:30.


Wow... four day week and such a short work day to boot? Nice.



Jhud -> RE: Four-day work and/or school week (8/25/2008 7:35:38 PM)

quote:

One of these days Jack - when we are in Minnesota we'll have to get together!


I am always here and your family is always welcome - provided they aren't allergic to dogs, cats, or lots of trees. [:)]



momma_bee -> RE: Four-day work and/or school week (8/25/2008 7:42:18 PM)

How does it effect vacation time if you go 4 days a week? I get X weeks. Times 5 days. So, would it be times 4 if it is four day week? That would make sense because a vacation day would become a 10 hour day.



garsyt -> RE: Four-day work and/or school week (8/25/2008 7:49:19 PM)

quote:

provided they aren't allergic to dogs, cats, or lots of trees.


If that were the case then we'd have serious problems here in our own home!

quote:

How does it effect vacation time if you go 4 days a week? I get X weeks. Times 5 days. So, would it be times 4 if it is four day week? That would make sense because a vacation day would become a 10 hour day.


Around here hubby's vacation time is based on hours worked instead of weeks. And if it's 10 hour days and and you are still working a 40 hour week you should still get the same amount of vacation time and the 5th day would be just like the day you normally had off.

Blessings,

Garsy



momma_bee -> RE: Four-day work and/or school week (8/25/2008 7:53:22 PM)

I guess I'm thinking of the gov't getting 4 / 6 / 8 hours every two weeks. So, starting out, you have 1 day off a month available. But, if it is a 10 hour day, you are still 'short' two hours. On one hand, you can schedule appt on Friday, but you can't always do that.

Mine works different because they are easy going. Technically, I earn so many days, pro-rated over the 26 pay periods, but I can use my days before they are earned.



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