I am actually going to use my blog to blog today! I try to stay away the serious stuff but in this case I just can’t help it. The governor of Utah has decided in order to cut down on energy costs all state employees beginning August 1, 2008 will work 4 days a week, 10 hours a day. Some state employees are exempt such as those who work in educational institutions, highway patrol, etc. I have been reading online polls and comments of fellow Utahans expressing their opinions and sometimes, well most of the time, ridiculous uneducated opinions. I know I am so harsh! But seriously, if you check some of the comment strings on ksl.com or even locally in the Herald Journal, you would feel dumber for having read them! Since this is my blog, I will use that power and express my opinion and I would love to hear yours (please disregard my aforementioned harsh comments above : ) ) I think it will interesting. I think it will take some getting use to. However, I don’t see anything wrong with it. That means less government employees on the road while I am commuting to work on Fridays. It also means that I don’t have to run my government agency errands on my lunch hour because they will be open later during the week. I wouldn’t even mind giving it a shot but unfortunately I am exempt. I understand that there are issues with child care, etc. However, unless a couple both works for the state, couldn’t the one parent who doesn’t, pick up their child? Just a thought. Another “brilliant” person said working 10 hour days would be highly unproductive. But they are wrong! Studies show that you are more productive in a 10 hour day than an 8 hour day. If you don’t believe me, I will email you the studies. You are more productive because employees waste so much time starting up and shutting down each day that when you work longer you actually have more time for more productivity. Plus, I know that my morale would be higher if I got every Friday off! However, I do recognize that would make evenings at home during the 4 day work week even shorter but maybe a 3 day weekend would make up for that.
Now, I will elaborate on the most “intelligent” comment I read. Several people suggested that the state agencies should actually be open 7 days a week with people working swing shifts as well. That was the one that just made me wish that people were required to take IQ tests to reproduce. Umm, I am pretty sure that having agencies open 7 days a week would defeat the purpose of cutting energy costs.
Okay, I feel better now.
3 comments:
I agree with you. And I REALLY agree with you on the Herald Journal comments making you dumber. Oh my gosh. Who ARE those people? Seriously.
I agree with you and Megan both...I get so mad when I read the herald journal comments that I've just stop doing it all together...people are ridiculous!? But I think a four day work week would be divine...in my home town they switched to a four-day school week and everyone loves it...kids, teachers, parents...a 4 work week can't be that much different right? I'd love to have a three day weekend every week...but that's just me.
Well, I have to say that I agree with everyone! It's so frustrating to try to get something done on your lunch hour or leave early for the day in the hopes that you'll get there in time or make it though the line before you have to be back. Just thinking about the hassle it was to change my name with the Social Security people makes me cringe. (Then, I had to go through it again two more times because they screwed it up! But that's another story for another blog.) I would totally work 10-hour days if it meant I was guaranteed a three-day weekend every week! Maybe we can convince John that Fridays are so slow anyway and we don't really need to be open... :)
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