Mesa city workers begin 4-day work week program

AZ Family ^ | March 2, 2009

[Lorianne]

Cities all across Arizona are being forced to cut their budgets.

One of the ways some are saving money is by cutting their work week from five days to four.

Mesa has joined the ranks of Buckeye, Avondale and Queen Creek as it begins its four-day workweek pilot program. If its success is anything like Avondale’s, it could become permanent.

On Monday Blaine Comeaux, an election specialist with the Mesa city clerk's office, began a new schedule. He admits he is, “Getting used to working longer hours…staying mentally focused the entire day.”

Comeaux and nearly 2,500 other Mesa city employees are now on an alternate compressed workweek with extended hours Monday through Thursday and Fridays off. It is called the “Four for Mesa Program.”

“It was about the employees, it was about energy-savings, the environment and extended service for our customers,” explains Steve Wright, with the City of Mesa.

This can be an adjustment professionally and personally for folks like Comeaux, who has three young boys.

The same program is called "Green Friday" at Avondale City Hall. It was the first city in the Valley to try it out. By working closely with employees and residents, the pilot program, which began in June 2008, was such a success that Avondale went full-time with it in October.

Avondale saved about $45,000 in energy savings by being closed on Fridays and saved an additional $10,000 in janitorial costs.

Mesa will conduct a similar survey of its customers and employee in December to get their feedback.

[Lorianne]

Nova goes to four-day workweek, slashes pay http://www.globes.co.il/serveen/globes/DocView.asp?did=1000430737&fid=1725

Featherlite downshifts to 4-day workweek http://www.crescotimes.com/news/x594732269/Featherlite-downshifts-to-4-day-workweek

Boeing Wpg Moves To 4-Day Work Week http://www.cjob.com/News/Local/Story.aspx?ID=1068131

Firms Adapt to Tough Times http://archrecord.construction.com/news/economy/survivalguide/0903firmsadapt-1.asp

[Blood of Tyrants]

I’ll bet that you don’t notice one bit in productivity.

[GeronL]

so the hourly employees still get 40 hours?

not much in savings compared to their annual budget I bet

[albie]

Cut them back to 1 day. You’ll still get the same amount done...a half day.

[Never on my watch]

What’s an “election specialist”?

Sounds like an ACORN employee.

[Tex Pete]

Are they cutting taxes since they are reducing service?

[Alberta's Child]

This isn't a "furlough" type of arrangement where the city is saving money by scaling back the hours its employees work. The employees still work 40 hours, but they do four 10-hour days instead of five 8-hour days.

It's basically an energy-saving measure aimed at reducing operating and maintenance costs by keeping the lights and air conditioners off for one extra day.

[GeronL]

a drop in the bucket

[Alberta's Child]

I agree. I guess it’s more symbolic than anything else, but I think it could be a pretty attractive “benefit” for people who like the idea of having an extra day off.

[CodeToad]

Up from 1 day a week?

[elkfersupper]

Government workers have generally adopted a -0- day workweek.

Unfortunately, they still get paid.