You May Never Work On Fridays Again
Here’s an interesting news item that may actually change your life. Last year Utah mandated that state employees would no longer work on Fridays. Instead, these workers would put in ten hours for four days. The Beehive State, also known as a Mormon wonderland, decided to restructure life in order to sa
ve money. Don’t look now, but the plan has been a revelation.
Lots of other cities in America and around the world have taken notice and are starting to ask questions. On top of that, the private sector is also starting to make the change. General Motors has already instituted the 4-10 plan at several factories. Could you handle a three day weekend every time? Your state or company may be making the change.
Time magazine’s Bryan Walsh breaks down this story in an article titled “Thank God It’s Thursday.” Walsh does a lot of writing about the environment and goes green more than Miss Piggy. The obvious benefits of this movement are lower energy costs and less traffic. After twelve months, employees have saved an estimated $6 million in gas. Most workers say the like the new schedule.
Unexpected benefits also popped up from the plan. More citizens are now able to access Utah’s government offices because they are open later. Also, workers took less sick days and say they exercise more on Fridays now.
Do you like the idea? Maybe you should run it by your boss. The movement will only get more and more press coverage over the coming months. Connecticut law school is putting together a symposium on the issue. Chances are good that the 4-10 schedule will pick up support from conservative and liberal leaders alike.
By the way, notice how useful the American system is when we have the ability to try out new policies in individual states that serve as social laboratories. That’s the beauty of federalism and a big reason why you can tell someone to stuff it when they pooh-pooh the Founding Fathers.
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Life. Culture. Education.
Life as Pop Culture Professor Clay Morgan
In The Matrix, Morpheus tells Neo he can take the blue pill and go on believing whatever he wants to believe. Or he can take the red pill to stay in Wonderland and find out how deep the rabbit hole goes.
This is a red pill type site that provides information in an entertaining way. It’s about clear thinking and good writing. It’s about finding meaning amidst the absurd. It’s about humor and truth.
I’m a writer / speaker who teaches history and political courses at a couple of local colleges. Where is local, you say? Well, that would be Wonderland of course.
On topics ranging from pop culture to the meaning of life, my brain’s always poppin’. Take the red pill and unplug.
i couldn’t even handle 8 hours of work.and the make it 10 hours a day? i like the idea of 3 day weekend.. did they really thought that over? is that final? wouldn’t the body collapse?.. hope it won’t happen in the Philippines.
If the administration will spend $3 billion to demo perfectly good cars and trucks in the name of CO2 emissions, consider the attraction of taking one day a week off of everyone’s commute. Ofcourse this doesn’t work for many professions or businesses, but when gas was $4 last year, the factory I worked adopted the 4-10 option. I guess we will see if Van Jones sees an opportunity to take credit for the idea somehow. Then ofcourse it will become popular and glorified on msnbc.
Yeah, I’m always skeptical too. Next post touches on Clunkers too.
i have worked 10 hrs. a day for years. once you do it, an eight hour day feels like a breeze. i think its a good idea, although not for everyone, that extra day off could possibly boost the economy giving people that extra day to relax, then get out of the house without all of the usual craziness of a usual saturday morning and do some spending. an extra two hours a day is well worth that 3 day weekend. as far as the comment “wouldn’t the body collapse”, it depends on what your profession is, but really, suck it up and enjoy the 3 day weekend! then we can get back to what really matters, spending time with family and loved ones, instead of becoming a zombie slaving to the grind in order for 1 or 2 big wigs to get rich while the average person is trying to make ends meet, wondering if their job will be around for another week. happiness is the key to success, money is the root of all evil. americans need to get back in touch with the basics instead of trying to chase down that ever so elusive million dollar dream
Ah, well spoken Earth Nugget, my old friend. (That sounded like a line from a Sci-Fi movie). Should we mention that some people hate their families and never want to go home. This three day weekend thing might really rock their hollow, empty, hate-filled world.