Comments about ‘Most state workers favor 4-day week’

So, what will happen on holidays? Are they going to get the full ten hours off in stead of the normal eight? Sounds like the taxpayers are getting taken advantage of once again.

Well of course they will, Commoner. You know that the public sector always grows. Growing government is always Job One of government. That's why so many local municipalities are assessing windfall property tax increases.

These overpaid, overweening public "servants" have long ceased to be servants and have become mandarins.

Everyone should get a 4 day week. I wouldn't mind the 10 hours a day. An extra two hours a day at my job would be another two hours on Facebook...so no complaining here.

It has been my experience that those working 10 hour days have such a "soldiering" attitude that they pace themselves with a laid back environment to stretch their hours with a less productive situation. This is an increase of cost to the taxpayers. Also the employees that have to have a second job to make ends meet have less hours in the day to support a second job. Thus making a stressful situation for the family needs, including quality time with their children. We are only making things worse by allowing this change to take place. The governor should stay out of the loop and allow the professional Human resources departments to do their jobs.

Actually talk to the rank and file. . .this was hardly a scientifically conducted survey and many with negative feelings did not take it for fear of punishment and retribution. This is terrible for young families.

56 percent in favor is hardly a stunning mandate. This will have a devistating effect on my children.

Hate to burst your bubble commoner but State Employees are also tax payer and pay their equal share and also have to stand in line for services as any other tax payer. Not all are happy with the move but they won't reflect that as the Gov wants to be number one in the nation and media, still hoping for VP shot

How many public servants do you know that ever WORKED a 40 hour week? Not many. Now we reward them with a three-day weekend every week and make it so citizens have one day less each week to do business. Who are they supposed to be serving? The public!

I've been working 4-10's since I started with the State nearly 10 years ago. Absolutely no change to me, and many many others. The biggest difference will not be for many employees, but rather that the office will now only be officially opened for 4 days a week. We just used to stagger it before to cover the entire week. Some worked Monday through Thursday, others Tuesday through Friday.

To those who are totally bagging on State Employees... How many public servants do you know that ever WORKED a 40 hour week?

Get over yourself!

This entire thing isn't about rewarding anybody. It's about saving some taxpayer cash in tough economic times.

I suggest we personally raise the taxes of each individual who is against this idea, to cover the losses, and remain open five days a week.

Unfortunately, this entire change wasn't about people being in favor of it... Oddly enough, the majority barely is.

I'm a state employee... I have young kids. I'm part of the rank and file. I currently work four tens, and have done for years.

My young family is just fine!

Your opinion was hardly scientific.

Unfortunately, the many people with negative feelings who did not take the survey, were balanced out by those with positive feelings who were apathetic towards the survey. Statistics win out with fairly small sample sizes all the time.

HOWEVER, what the article should have been titled was: "State Workers Torn on Whether or Not They Favor The Four Day Work Week."

Somebody at the DN ought to be ashamed for claiming favoritism by only 6%...

It's a social injustice to twist the results with the wording. In reality it is probably a wash, not a clear cut victory.

State Employees pay their equal share? What about the bloated pension and medical benfit packages promised to these workers? Future generations will pay more than their equal share so these folks can work from age 22 to 47 (put in their 25 years) then retire or start a second career. And now they have a 4 day "work" a week.

This is a great thing.
If you want to work 5 days a week, change jobs.
If you currently work 5 days a week and want to work 4, get a job with the state.
Whiners.

This is awesome.

Schools should consider doing the same thing.

I'm a state employee... I currently work four tens... I don't really care one way or the other about this switch...

However, to me, it seems that although $3 Million in energy savings is quite a bit, it is such a small dent in the overall state budget, that the switch is probably not worth the effort.

I applaud Governor Huntsman for his attempt to save a few pennies. But the reality is the pennies saved will be spent somewhere else, and the public will now have to deal with a shorter time available for services.

All the studies that I have ever seen show that the two extra hour every day in a 4 day work week are less productive than the regular 8 hours . The morale booster, so-called , is because state employees will have another play day every week . When the energy crisis is over will we ever go back to a 5 day work week ? I believe the answer is no .

Maybe if they'd done the survey before making the announcement, or actually let employees have a voice in the decision, the approval numbers would have been higher.

The four-day work week is a wonderful idea ... for everyone. The energy savings will moderate the current supply vs. demand crisis and save money at the same time.

Let's begin by reducing the public school week to four days. Close schools on Mondays (to accommodate Monday holidays) and hold classes Tuesday - Friday. An energy savings of 20% to everyone who pays property taxes! What could be more popular? Quick action on the part of the governor could put this plan into effect before the start of the 2008-2009 school year.

May we all be as energy-conscious as Governor Huntsman and expand this grand idea.

I tried it and hated it. Wait until December and January and February when the days are short and then take a survey and see how many still enjoy working 10 hour days. I guarantee the results will be different.