Attorney General adjusting to 4-day week

The Utah Attorney General's Office is juggling its staffers to adjust to the governor's energy-saving plan for state employees to work four 10-hour days.

"We believe in conservation, and we support the governor," Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff said Thursday. "We're not mandating every employee go to four 10s."

The complicating problem is that the state courts will remain open five days a week. So even if the Utah Attorney General's Office wanted to move solely to the four-day work week, it would be problematic.

Shurtleff said he is leaving it up to his division chiefs to work it out with employees. The attorney general's office is not subject to Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr.'s order that executive branch employees switch to a Monday-through-Thursday work week beginning Aug. 4.

Much of it will depend on which state-run buildings remain open. Employees, such as attorneys appointed to represent state agencies like natural resources, will likely work the four-day week because their building will be closed.

"They really don't have a choice unless they want to come in to work that day and work at the Heber Wells building," he said.

While other state agencies may be closed, some attorneys representing them may continue with a five-day workweek by telecommuting, although Shurtleff noted the office's policies on that are strict. Other staffers may go to an "on call" policy when problems arise on Fridays.

"The word from our office is we encourage our employees to take advantage of it where they can, but a good chunk of our office has to be open," he said.

The office at the Capitol will have a sign on the door, noting it is closed on Fridays — but Shurtleff said he will likely continue a five-day workweek.

"I'll be working Fridays, I guarantee you," he said. "We told our secretaries they don't have to be there on Fridays, but for me it's pretty much 24/7."

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