I would kill or die for a three-day weekend every week even if it meant working two extra hours per day four days a week. I can't believe people are complaining about this.

The public will benefit from this also because state offices will be open earlier and later four days a week which increases accessibility.

People are complaining because this was pushed through without any input and two days notice. Some people would like to spend those extra two hours a day with their school-age children--who don't have Fridays off. Some people have second jobs they need to accommodate. Some people would prefer not to leave their children in daycare for 12 hours a day. Some people have transportation issues--now they can't carpool. Some people have already worked 10 hour days and know that your productivity decreases.

Mr. Herring's statement that employees will net 50 days off suggests that these 50 days are a State-provided "employee benefit," equivalent to a paid holiday. They are not. The State is choosing to have many of its employees work 40 hours in four days, rather than 40 hours in 5 days.

The Friday "day off" will be beneficial for some employees. It will be detrimental to others who need time the other days of the week to do homework with children or take family members to doctors, music lessons, or athletic practice. But in either case, it is not an employee benefit.

That said, if the State is determined to impose the "4-10s" schedule, it seems better to give employees 10 hours' holiday leave for each paid holiday than to give them eight hours, leaving them to either use two hours annual leave or work 11 hours two other days that week (assuming their supervisors would allow the extra work hours).

If you aren't a state employee you have no opionion. I am a state employee and I think it is going to be a fantastic change.

Just like any other business they want something for nothing in return. Danielle who cares if you are a state employee. Other business will try and follow suite. Everything should be caculated at 10 Hrs, vacation, sick leave, Holidays, etc. Keep up the fight employee association. Holiday falls on a Friday move it to Thursday or Monday.

Anaconda12... some people with children would like to be responsible parents by helping them with their homework, scouting, and other activities in the evenings. a 10 hour work day prohibits that. Having Fridays free doesn't do me any good if my children are in school.

People have valid reasons for complaining about this. Just because it might be favorable to you doesn't mean it is for everyone.

As a child of a veteran, it makes me sad to see that Utah government has no respect for a day intended to honor Americans who have gone to war to protect lives and freedom. I could care less about the loss of Columbus day but refusing to honor Veteran's Day for economic reasons reflects a real sickness in our society.

I am a state employee.. so I guess I have a right to an opinion. I do not believe that this change is "fantastic" as Danielle thinks it is for her. Great for her. Unfortuantly this change has a negative effect on my family life. And Jeff Herring's comment that we are netting 50 additional days off is just plain stupid. Nice try, in trying to spin a positive on a forced-upon work schedule, wrecking havoc with so many lives. I am NOT gaining 50 days off a year, still working 40 hours a wee, Jeff. I am losing my job flexibility, my family time, and desire to stay in public employment.

Yet another edict from King Jon.

Just hope he does not get to like this too much and start imposing things on the general population.

I am a State employee and I like 4-10s. I have been doing it for a few years, but taking off another day (besides Friday) for personal reasons. This really screws that up but I am able to work around it.

I don't think this is a bad thing, but how about a little lead time and some discussion before imposing it. This holiday situation is an unintended consequence brought about because of the knee-jerk manner in which the entire 4-10s was imposed.

And before you tell me to go get a job on the private side, been there, done that. I like my 40-hour weeks and my benefits, but King Jon is really trying hard to take all that away, so I may soon be out there taking your job because despite stereotypes of State employees, I bet I can work harder/longer/better than you.

My beef is not with the program. It is with the manner of the implementation of the program.

First: Since Jeff Herring does not understand the meaning of the word "extra": please note that employees put in the "extra" time during the week and earn the 52 Fridays off. What an idiot!

Also, for all the non-gov't workers who think they are sooooooo wonderful because they work in the wonderfully great private sector - Please note state employees choose LOW PAY as a trade off for GREATER BENEFITS - if benefits are reduced it's like PAY CUT. State employees are just as capable as anyone else, but we think there is More to Life than MONEY. This of course is a foreign concept to out silver spoon little gov.

I agree with enslaved it has been the way it was implemented. Yes King Jon thinks he has all the answers. I say the guy who said there would be no impack on the state as far as money is the one who should be fired. If we have to give up a holiday it should be the 24th of July. Then we would have everyone upset because we are open on that day. I have nothing against the 24th of July but give up a state holiday.

PS yes and I'm a member of the LDS Church. But lets be fair not everyone gets that day off.

The bottom line is that Americans are now forced to find ways to conserve energy!

Let's see... state employees have had their health benefit cut at retirement. They had their health insurance program benefits cut this year. Big raises only go to high level governor appointed positions (because increases are bases on percentage... the governor's boys get a percent of $80,000+, the workers get a percentage of $30,000). Many state workers have to take a second job to make ends meet since state salaries are so low. I expect some will leave because it will be easier to manage 2 private sector jobs, than a low paying state job and a private sector job. Also, the energy cost in buildings will probably not be near what is estimated as some employees will have jobs to do on the "off" days so the building will be heated for the sake of 1 employee rather than the whole work force. That doesn't translate to savings, it's waste.

I am deeply concerned about the "pattern" I am seeing with the Gov. There are a number of things that he has pushed through that should have had community input, yet he moves forward as if HE alone can decide it all. For example:

(1) Private schools;
(2) The REAL Stadium;
(3) Economic development at ANY cost (growth DOES have real costs - and yes, I am a conservative);
(4) Getting rid of current alcohol laws;
(5) Employee 10 hour work day (Note: the Utah Constitution; Article 16, Section 6 makes that illegal without an amendment - but hey, who cares about the mere Constitution?);
(6) State tax cut - but what? Oh, now the counties can tax us MORE! (BUT he can brag that HE cut taxes - yeah right), and the list goes on.

We need to wake up – I used to like this guy, but he scares me the way he runs over the people on important decisions. What this looks like is an urgent attempt to quickly build a "record" for future political ambitions (Don’t have time to get the input from the people). C'mon Gov set your ambitions aside and come back to Utah!

I'm a state employee (28 years). I agree with Wondering: what is king jon trying to set himself up for. His decisions are not made with the well being of the state in mind. It's only self serving.

No one has even thought about the services that aren't provided Monday thru Friday. Some of us will still be working Fridays (and Saturdays and Sundays, and Christmas, and graveyards and ...) The four 10 hr shifts won't affect us, but the holiday change will make schedules harder.

I have worked both ten and twelve hour shifts. It always hurts to work a holliday for twelve hours with no time and a half and then be given eight hours of vacation only to use four hours of annual for a day off.

And where do you not get 40 hours of work is 40 hours of work whether or not you have Friday off?

Some (certainly not all) state employees always seem to see the glass as 'half full.' Fortunately, others are intelligent enough to see the Governor's true motivation and not criticize him for thinking through and proposing productive solutions. In a few short years, most all employers (public and private) will likely be adopting the 4-10 hour work-week approach to employment. In the meantime, many progressive employees will be enjoying their proactive rather than reactive approach to public service.