"We have to wait and see how it affects the employees after the implementation," Sutton said of any potential grievances. "For the most part, we've received quite a bit of positive feedback on this."

The governor's decision not to take away two holidays in the next 12 months helps, Sutton said. Originally, employees were told they would have to work both Columbus Day and Veterans Day because they would be getting 10 hours off on other holidays instead of eight.

But when the actual amount of holiday time given to employees in 2008 was calculated, it turned out employees would have to lose only one holiday, Columbus Day. That may well mean losing both though, if the pilot program becomes permanent a year from now.

Sutton said both UPEA and the state plan to survey employees toward the end of the year to see how the new schedule is working. Their earlier surveys found about 20 percent of workers had concerns about the change in their hours.

"We're ready," said Jeff Herring, the Department of Human Resource Management executive director. "Public workers are committed workers. We'll find ways to make it work."

In some cases, Herring said, they're still looking.

For example, his department's survey of state workers included specific questions aimed at helping the Utah Transit Authority adjust bus schedules where needed. But that might not happen until the fall, he said.

And each state agency is attempting to accommodate specific scheduling problems, Herring said, including letting employees finish their workday on public transportation as they head home or telecommuting even longer hours.

"We're exploring whatever we can do to help the transition go as smooth as possible," he said. "It's been an exciting process. I will be very glad when Monday gets here and we get going. Friday will probably be even better."

Huntsman's own office is kicking off the first week of the new schedule with a 7 a.m. staff meeting — and a 5 p.m. policy meeting. "More than anything, it's going to be filling all of the hours of the day," the governor's spokeswoman, Lisa Roskelley, said of the transition.

Roskelley said although the governor's office will be closed to the public on Fridays, he and his staff still expect to work that day. But this Friday, Huntsman won't be there because he's taking three personal days off.

The state's other elected officials aren't required to comply with the governor's order but are attempting to do so anyway. Attorney General Mark Shurtleff's office had to cope with the fact that courts aren't closing on Fridays.

State Treasurer Ed Alter faced a similar problem because banks and financial markets are open on Fridays. Alter said about a third of his 10-member staff will end up working at least part of the day Friday to handle necessary transactions.