Reader comments
Readers' forum: Like 4-day workweek?

Chris | 6:06 a.m. July 2, 2009

All one has to do is to go to the Post Office, stand in line and watch the "highly motivated" Postal employees look lost at their job. Have you ever watched while standing in line at just how inept the Postal Service is managed? Its a riot to watch a Postal employee leave his/her station to take their coffee break or lunch break, when the line could be 100 yards long. In the private sector people would take care of the customer(s) and figure out better service to cut the long lines. Federal Government is a source that can't even motivate their own employees, so what makes you think a State Government will do it????

Dick | 6:26 a.m. July 2, 2009

No frustration or annoyance for me. Normally, I don't need information from a state office "immediately". Of course, I rarely have to contact a state office.

I have a Secret | 7:12 a.m. July 2, 2009

The Secret about the Postal employees ineptitude lies in the fact that they are Unionized. Therein lies the problem. Guarentee you that many Unionized emploees in the private sector are "just as lazy".

Comments continue below

Annoyed wife | 7:14 a.m. July 2, 2009

My husband works the 4/10. I hate it. Planning a family life around that schedule is hard, especially when I work a regular 5-day week.

John | 7:15 a.m. July 2, 2009

You should try being a state employee whose paycheck is messed up and since you get paid on Friday there is no one to contact to get your money.
Not all state employees have Fridays off. It seems like it causes problems for those who do not have it off and more importantly it effects government services for the citizens of our state.Why did they decide on Fridays? Why not Mondays? I would really like to see if this is cost effective.

Criminal mindset | 7:41 a.m. July 2, 2009

Why would anyone, other than criminals, want to go to government services on a Friday?!? Friday is for launching the weekend Par-Tay...

Anonymous | 7:58 a.m. July 2, 2009

We love the 4 day.

The whole state should go to it so we can have more family time!

lost in DC | 8:27 a.m. July 2, 2009

4/10 is bad. the idea is to save money?? have no state services and you could save a ton of money, but I don't think that's a society most of us would want to live in.

Danielle | 8:44 a.m. July 2, 2009

State employees are required to have direct deposit of their checks so I don't know what you are complaining about, John. As for people that need information "Right Now", go to the state Website. You can find just about anything on there. I'm a state employee and 99% of the time I log onto our website to find the answer for the customer.

Crystalball | 8:51 a.m. July 2, 2009

Why don't you just go before or after your working day on Monday-Thursday???? The state offices open at 7:00am and close at 6:00pm. This is what I do. Its handy to hit the Driver's License office at 7:00am before work compared to trying to rush there at 5:00pm just before they closed for the day. I LOVE the Mon-Thurs schedule for state offices (as long as they keep the extended hours)!

Devil's advocate | 8:57 a.m. July 2, 2009

I know a lot of people have the 4-10 situation and feel the need to voice their opinions about it, but I think it's only fair that it be said that that are a LOT of state employees, including myself, that thoroughly enjoy the new schedule. Sure there are compromises that have to be made, but, at least for me, the pros far out weigh the cons.

Just thought I'd throw that out there...

Hate the 4 10's | 9:12 a.m. July 2, 2009

In a poll most employees favored the 4 tens work schedule. The truth is most employees hate it and are afraid to speak out. 7,000 employees were afraid to even respond to the poll! The whole thing has been a farce. The public doesn't get the service they deserve, and State employees are having their family lives destroyed.

D. Cotant | 9:36 a.m. July 2, 2009

When I worked for Abbot Labs (Sorenson Research Division) We experimented with 4/10 plan; it was hard at first, but I got used to it.

whoknowswhat | 10:00 a.m. July 2, 2009

Im a state employee and I love the 4-10's. I have been able to schedule all my apt on Fridays and not have to worry about taking time off work. As for any thing else. I use the internet to get my business done. I hope they keep it.

I appreciate it. | 10:43 a.m. July 2, 2009

As a customer it works great for me being that I work the same 8-5 that they use to be open so them being open an extra hour in the morn and eve makes it easier for me to get to them do what I need to do. I hope it stays that way and believe that if they do keep the schedule that way it will get alot easier for employees and customers alike. Just like anything - it takes time to adjust so just be patient.

Loving it! | 10:46 a.m. July 2, 2009

Yes, it is a long day but having the 3rd day off is nice for people that either need another job, want to take their families on vacations and also to relax. I hope they keep it this way and in time we will all be use to it and so will the public.

Happy Camper | 10:52 a.m. July 2, 2009

The 4 10's schedule took some getting use to but it's great now. My wife and I like having Fridays off to take care of business; that truly leaves the weekends for recreation and entertainment. Why does anyone need to even go into a state office anymore; everything I've had to do for the last 5 years I've done online. I noticed 'Hate the 4 10's' is speaking in the 3rd party voice. A little jealous are we?

I hope... | 10:57 a.m. July 2, 2009

my job never goes to a 4 day week. That would mean I would lose 20 percent of my paycheck because the hours per day would be the same but one less day.

Wrex | 11:22 a.m. July 2, 2009

I'm working on getting my schedule to be two 8's. That would rule!!!!!

Poor service | 12:27 p.m. July 2, 2009

The state DWR who are in charge of hunting permits was closed on Fridays during the pandemonium of the hunt. That's like closing a business on black Friday! I needed to verify info on my tag and couldn't reach anyone.

Glad for the 4/10 system | 3:44 p.m. July 2, 2009

I like the 4/10 system because it allow me to go into state offices and get things done before and after work. I hate banks that close at 5 or 5:30 since I don't get the opportunity to conduct my banking in person on days that I work and since I work from 9 to 5 every day I don't have a lot of time except on Saturday which I also work. So I am glad for this system which benefits my family.

Zero day week? | 4:18 p.m. July 3, 2009

I sometimes wish they would just close - period!

Still, while they require people to get a license for this and pay a fee for that, their hours should be convenient for all.

Either that or make it easier to do their required things on the internet (without levying "convenience charges") reduce and eliminate various onerous requirements, and stay open just long enough only to deal with those without accesss to computers.

Anonymous | 5:14 p.m. July 3, 2009

Sounds like the WAMBULENCE is driving by.

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