Company Offers 4-Day Workweek To Save Employees Money

[liberal N proud]

CANTON, Ohio - A Canton company is making a major change to help its employees deal with the rising gas prices. The M. Conley Company is giving its 113 workers a four-day workweek to cut down on the commute.

The company has been family owned for nearly 100 years and has a history of treating its employees like family, as well.

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On top of the four-day workweek, the company also gave every employee an extra $80 for the holiday weekend.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24831231/

[laylah]

1. When do I start?

There was a time most companies treated their employees as valuable "commodities" which, in turn, got them loyalty. Too bad that is, mostly, a thing of the past. Good on the M. Conley Company!

[Ganja Ninja]

2. We should be mandating this wherever possible. n/t

[OhioChick]

3. I think this is a very good idea.....

especially for those able to work from home.

[DaveJ]

4. Makes WAY too much sense.

The only reason employers aren't doing this, I think, is because it would give employees a day off during the work week to interview for better jobs. You know, most jobs don't allow personal phone calls or web surfing, especially on employment sites. Most jobs certainly don't allow days off to be taken spontaneously (ie, for an interview). They want to maintain forced servitude.

But the 4 day week makes total sense. Just stay an extra 2 hours. Adding a couple extra hours to the day would be no problem for most people.

Heck, after 8 hours my momentum is just starting to build up. And I could work from home easily if necessary.

In theory, this would also reduce traffic by 20% if everyone did it. (assuming we are responsible and don't spend all day driving on our days off.)

It would also give people an opportunity to take classes or work on other productive goals they may have.

It's a great idea. I've always wondered why this isn't being done by all businesses already.

[Eurobabe]

5. what a concept. n/t

[lunatica]

6. UC Berkeley is doing something similar too

They call it START. Each department is being given permission to work out a voluntary reduction in time which is flexible (can be changed if needed) for the staff if they want it and it works for the department. The staff can work less hours a week but still get 100% benefits and vacation and sick leave accrual though they will be also be paid for only the hours they work. Thanks to the Governator UC is getting cuts in funding. They've tried this program for a couple of years and lots of staff took advantage of it. The thought that you can actually work less hours a week and still keep your job is very appealing. The offset in the expenses of gas might make it viable for many.

[LynneSin]

7. I love the 4-day work week

Half the time I'm working 10 hours a day so why not just make it official and give folks the extra day.

My company will allow folks to work from home one day a week. Since we're all a bunch of computer desk jockeys it's not like we need to be here 24x7