Wouldn’t it be great if you could have a four-day work week instead of the normal five or six days you work now? With rising gas prices, that’s exactly what some companies are offering to their employees.
At Ohio’s Kent State University, officials offered the schools custodial staff an option of working a longer day for four days a week or staying with their normal five days a week. Most of the 94 employees who had the opportunity jumped at the chance.
The university’s spokesperson – Scott Rainone – said the offer has a twofold advantage: It saves employees fuel and it adds to their morale. This, in turn, helps the school keep the good employees that it already has.
Although the option is only available for the custodial staff at the university, Rainone is hoping the school will offer it to other departments as well. “In our office,” he said, “we have people who travel anywhere from five or six miles to a couple who are on the road 45 to 50 minutes.” A four-day work week would certainly be a help for those who drive those long distances.
The trend is starting to spread across the nation. The federal government has offered a similar option to some employees while giving them a chance to telecommute as well. Private companies are also starting to follow the trend, especially ones in rural areas. Dave Vaughn, executive director of a company in rural northeastern Ohio, is offering the option to employees simply so he can hold on to them. Where his company is located, his employees “can jump on a bus or take a train.”
Maybe this trend will spread and your company will allow this, too. When it does, make the most of your longer weekends with a new or certified pre-owned vehicle from your local GMC truck dealer. How much more pleasant will everybody be when we all get three days off each week instead of two?
