Chrysler Aims for Savings With Four-Day Workweek

[Jon Katz]

Chrysler is considering a four-day workweek at some plants to save money -- I'm assuming on energy and other operational costs by shutting down the plant an extra day. (Read the entire AP story here (http://money.cnn.com/2008/08/11/news/companies/chrysler_week.ap/index.htm).)

This is a trend that seems to be catching on in some parts of the country. Utah (http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-06-30-four-day_N.htm) recently announced that it's shifting state workers to a four-day workweek, and public workers in Wayne County, N.C. (http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/3323500/), also began a four-day workweek on Aug. 4.

It seems to make sense in many cases. (If my employer is reading this, I know I wouldn't mind a four-day workweek.) I can see some challenges -- such as parents finding child care for those extra two hours Monday-Thursday -- but overall it looks like it could be a win-win situation for everyone involved.

Has anyone else moved to a four-day workweek, or are your employers considering it? I'm curious to know how many people think this is at least worth exploring.

[bradintx]

We have offerred the option of 4x10 to our hourly workforce. We thought it was a nice way to help save 20% on their fuel bills (drive to work one less day). We had thought that everyone would jump on it - but not so fast. Only about 1/3 of our employees "voted" to go this route. It is a testimony to continued aversion to any change. If I force the change everyone goes along, but if change is "voluntary" it is not happenning. We still have lots of work to do here!!

Keep in mind that we still need to operate 5 days per week, so this is a big pain for management to schedule and organize. In the end we stagerred a few departments so that some folks work M-Th and others work T-F. After a few weeks some more workers started to see the benefit and now only about 1/3 of our workforce is NOT doing 4x10.

[Jon Katz]

bradintx,

Did you ever hear any feedback from employees as to why they were at first resistant to the four-day week?

--Jon

[bradintx]

In fact we did ask the original 1/3 and the 1/3 that changed their minds how it was working out.

The original 1/3 really likes it and they of course talked to their co-workers about how good it worked out. The second 1/3 is also happier now and they tell us they just did not want to change, they had a comfortable routine. In the end it was not the gas savings but the fact that some could have 3 day weekends but for some others that had work as landscapers on the weekend it is another day to make $$.

The final 1/3 are pretty set in their ways. If I force the issue they will change and I am sure in end be happier, but I am not up to the headache of forcing this at this time.

I find some things interesting with our workforce and perhpas we are not alone?? In additon to the above, we have offered 125C programs for medical and dependant care (we had the pros come in and explain the benefits etc) and zero signed up to participate. We offer a 401k plan and only 7% will participate. We offer health care (insurance) for about $15/week employee cost and only about 12% participate.

It is frustrating at times that we try to offer these nice benefits but no one wants to play along.