I think it is sad that the deseret news has choose to highlight what 28 people think about the states switching to 4-10's when there are over 2.5 million citizens in Utah that are apperantly just fine with it. I would like to see the media try for once to focus on the good things instead of always on the negative no matter how small the percentage. How many people work for the state, and 24 dont like it. I think it sounds like 98% of the state employees dont mind it.

Those numbers are so insignificant that it is not worth reporting on. The message here is much more strongly that people are just fine with it. My personal experience is that it has worked out better for me because it was more accomadating to my schedule, allowing me to get services before or after my normal work day.

I find it amazing that a sample of 35 people is proof that most Utahn's oppose this workweek. I think it is amazing that out of all the politicians that are crying about how we need to cut back and be more green (democrats) we actually have someone doing something about it and all they can do is complain. We need more people willing to do and less people willing to complain.

I like it! Who will listen to these poor people on Fridays now that the Complaint Department is closed? Anytime you can cut $3 million from the state budget and only receive 28 complaints, you've done something right.

Very poor article. I don't think that 35 people's opinions is news worthy. Maybe if the paper had taken a poll or something.

What kind of reporting is this? Is this a statistically significant sample worthy of reporting? Absolutely not. The question shouldn't be about the couple dozen people that called in but the large numbers that have not called in. That is proof of its success. Is there nothing else better to report on than this?

I love the 4 day work week. I don't have to take a day off for my appointments. On the days I am scheduled to work, I am there. If I feel like I am getting sick I know I will have 3 days off to take care of it. The sick days in our dept. have decreased. I only have to have a sitter for my kids for 4 days. The commute is less congestive during the new hours. The morale in our office is up dramatically. 99% of our customers have said that it is more convenient for them with the extended hours. I love the 4 days, and I hope that we will be able to keep it.

maybe the rest of us should call and say we dont mind....I bet the number of support calls goes up after this article...

Who said "Trim the Staff"????? I guess if you don't work in a government office it would be okay with you to trim the staff......I think this plan is about as logical as it can be. Sure we may be inconvenienced for a while until we all get use to it, but I would rather cut utility spending than have workers laid off because of the budget crisis. And to the gentleman that said the state worker's are now working less hours - Hello! - they are working the same amount of hours, just a different schedule.

I'm completely for saving jobs!!!

West Valley City offices has had a 4 day work week for quite some time. The longer hours fix it so you can go before and after work. Most of the time it is fine. I go to several cities that have extended hours.

I agree, IF it saves us $3 million or more, and only 28 people are ticked, keep it.

For all you people that think the 4 day work week is fine and that 98 percent of the State Employees are fine with it.

GET A CLUE:

A) As a state employee I can tell you that "NO" most of the state employees are not happy with it. Why don't they complain? because they are afraid of the backlash that will happen if they do. Believe under Huntsman, you don't want to be labeled as a "Problem Worker".

B) What about the State Employees that are single and have children? they don't get to use the services they need from the state because they are either dropping off their kids or picking the up. So the offices are closed on Friday. Hmmmm.. Did anyone think of that?

I have to burn a vacation day to go register (new vehicle)my car. Why do I need to do this? because I am required to be at the office at 7:00 am and usually do not get off until 5:30. Guess what? by the time I get to DMV, they are closed! Hmm.. Again, did anyone think about this?

I don't approve of them closing the DMV's. If anything those depts NEED extended hours. When you have a line going more then ten feet past your door before those doors even open, there's an issue!

Do they not allow you to take a partial vacation day instead of an entire one? What did you do before to get to the DMV? Did you work 8-5 Mon-Fri and did the DMV hours match your hours then too??

It seems you are whining more than anything as many people struggle with the same issues who don't work for the state. It's part of life. If you are not happy search the want ads for a new job. You may decide you are very lucky to have one at all in a few months, and thanks to the reduction of costs, you are more likely to remain employed if you do stay with the state.

My personal experience has been that at places like the DMV the wait time has been cut down because of the extended hours which saves us all personal time and allows the general public (tax payers) to take less personal time or vacation time from work to take care of the same errands.

To "SLC gal": DMV does indeed have extended hours for the four days they are open - 7 AM to 6 PM.

To "Confused": I am also a state employee, and contrary to your office, almost everybody in mine either likes it or doesn't mind it. Most of those with child issues have taken care of the problems by now. As for those that haven't - there were probably just as many people with problems with the schedule when it was 5/8. I don't blame you for your comment, however, because as humans we all tend to congregate around the opinions we agree with, and distance ourselves from the opinions we disagree with.

My only complaint is that I'm jealous. I wish our office would go to a 4 day week. I can't believe "Confused" is complaining.

I am confused now... When they were open on Fridays did you not have to take personal time off to take care of your personal business??? It should be better now, just leave a little early from work so you can get there before 6. Not a horrible thing. If you work someplace that doesn't allow you to take personal time... then get a new job.

and.. you already sound like a whiny problem worker...

You had to go to the DMV in person to register a NEW vehicle? I have purchased dozens of new vehicles, and each and every time my new plates have arrived in the mail. I have never once set foot in a DMV office.

I think you need to visit a different dealership.

We recently were going to go 4-wheeling over the labor day weekend, and went to register our 4-wheelers on a "Friday", only to remember that the DMV was closed!! Luckily we found out that the DMV is Tooele was open on Friday, and we drove out there and registered them. Even though the drive out there was kind of long, the lines were VERY short, which never is the case in SLC.

In any case, it was nice to know there was another option available on a Friday!! Thank you Tooele!!

I do think a 4-day work week sounds great though, and is a way to try to be a more energy-saving state!

A) I have worked four tens for about 6 years. So Working the four tens is no problem.

B) my day off was in the middle of the week and guess what? all the offices were open. I did not have to burn any vacation time.

C)because of the mandatory FRIDAY day off, I am not able to be as flexable. I was told under no circumstance could I work on Friday (even from home).

D)When I purchas a car from a PERSON (NOT DEALERSHIP) you HAVE TO GO to the DMV to register your car. Now I don't know about any other way to register a car.

E) I am the only support for my area on the days that I am in the office, so NO I can not leave a little early. Well I could and get fired because I did not work my 10.5 hours.

By the tone of some of you, can you know see why employees do not make their objections known? They are called Whiners, Problem worker, etc.......

Yet another example of government being out of control.

I have several friends who work for the Department of Child and Family Services, and have to appear in Court regularly on Fridays since the courts are still open on Fridays, or meet with families because they can't schedule the meetings into four days, so although they are on a four day schedule they are still working five. The only difference is they end up in the office on Friday for a few hours which means they still have to commute and the building utilities are still at normal. So what was the point. And if there is a crisis with a child, a three day weekend is a long time to wait for the child, parents, and others involved.

Me, I wouldn't mind a four day week, but it wouldn't make sence for my business. I think it doesn't make sence for allot of the Govenment Agencies as well, like DCFS.

In Arizona the DMV is not only open M-F but some are open on Saturday. It's called serving the community.

To confused.
I too am a state employee who has been able to work 4 10's for the past several years. It would be very small of me to not want my fellow employees to have the same bennift just because it inconvienced me.

Since Jonny Jr. is saving $3 MM a year in utility bills by closing on Friday, I would like to suggest that he close the offices for 3 days with an additional $6 MM in cost savings and while then state employees would only need to work 20 hours a week, thus they wouldn't qualify for benefits would is REALLY where the savings are.... tens of millions in savings. Go get 'em Jonny! Who cares about whether or not it is convenient for the public.

One thing folks we don't know what the savings are until the test period is final, the gov is pulling the amount out of his hat - kind of like the legistive lot with the budget. This is still an unknown and no I don't like the 10 hour day as I spend Friday running around to catch up on what I normally accomplished on my way home the other days plus neither my doctor or dentist is open on Friday and no I am not changing them!

I think it's cool. Remember in school when there wasn't school on Friday? 3 day weekend! And if needed you could get a second job working Fridays and Saturdays. I'm sure there are a few exeptions as to why it doesn't work for some people, but like I tell my employees, I'm open to suggestions but if you don't like the way I run my business then let me help you get another job somewhere else

Of course the phone calls are going to be mostly negative. People rarely go out of their way to pick up a phone when they're happy with the way things are. It's a fairly silly premise.

Did anybody even consider that most of the services Utah State Government now provides is online. You can do most everything for the DMV and it saves you time. No lines.. And guess what it is 24 x 7.. Wow convienience to the public... hmmmm Somebody somewhere will always disagree.. I can see the posts now... :)

As far as I can tell, nobody's explained how keeping offices in the "Goldilocks zone" -- not too hot, not too cold -- 40 hours spread over 4 days saves money when compared to 40 hours spread over 5 days.

How does doling out "Goldilocks hours" in ten-hour chunks, instead of 8-hour ones, save anything?

Getting to and from work 4 times a week, on the other hand, should definitely cut the cost of commuting by 20 per cent.

My high-school friend's dad was a barber. Barbers worked 5-day weeks, with a 2-day weekend, but they were open Saturdays.

"How do you do that?" I asked.

"We close Monday," he replied.

This strategy greatly improved their availability to people who worked Monday through Friday.

I'd improve the State's 4-day week by opening State offices Wednesday through Saturday. This would provide the same energy-saving benefits (if any) while, simultaneously, making bureaucrats much more available to the working masses.

As a state worker, I didn't see were the savings would come from. Heating or cooling, lights, etc are still supplied for 40 hours during the week, just in 4 days instead of 5, but still the same number of hours.

But now we get an e-mail stating that the temperature will be raised a few degrees during the summer and lowered in the winter and the air handlers will not put out as much air. So the buildings will save energy, they will be stuffy and hot, but will save energy.

With the gov going on national TV after his earth shattering announcement, do you really think they will say it is not a success?

For productivity, those state workers that had a hard time putting in an honest 8 hour day, now have a hard time putting in an honest 8 hour day, but have 10 hours to do it. So I guess it has made it easier on them.

I sure wish I could go to my kids games or any after school event....being home for dinner would be nice too...but Johnny Jr gets what Johnny Jr wants....why complain

Hey, if we required government workers to actually work, they would only have to spend a few hours at work and get done what they get done in a week now.

Why don't government workers stare out the window in the morning?

Because then they'd have nothing to do in the afternoon.

I also love the 4 day work week. So many workers used to take Friday off to go on Vacation etc. Now we are at work 99% of the time. Most of the workers that I have spoken to in our office said it took a little time to juggle schedules etc. but they now are really enjoying the benefits. They actually have family time, can participate in children's school activities and are ready to return to work on Mondays. If they were to cut staff in our offices it would directly impact all of you with longer wait times, longer lines and longer wait time on phone systems etc. I absolutely love having 3 days on the weekend. I work at the front counter in our State office and I have heard very few complaints about our hours. Thank you Govenor Huntsman!!

I am a state employee also. 4-10`s should not hurt anyone, everything can just about be done online this day and age. (Confused) I am sorry, you are not that important that you cant get your car done at lunch or take off a couple of hours. you do have leave schedule it! Hum what a concept thinking you are that important.The schedule is new to some but old to most of us. Now ask us about overtime all winter come on we dont have it very bad.

Change is hard and stinks sometimes, but how would we know if something would realistically work if we don't try it. I have had my reservations about how it would affect others especially those needing child care. But, at least someone is TRYING something. How frustrated do we get with government when they change nothing? I guess we just can't be happy regardless.

And to confused - get a grip. Things come up in everyone elses lives that have to be rearranged as well. Do you purchase cars on a monthly basis? Probably not. This is an extreme example of your tantrum. If you had a regular schedule conflict I could understand your frustration. But come on. We all have things that inconvenience our lives. I'm sure you can get past your registration.

The state is soft soaping the 4 day work week. More people dislike it than the State would be willing to say because they want to force it down the throats of its citizens. They are biding their time in hopes that the citizenry will just forget about it or get tired of fighting it. It effects every Utahan and their ability to get things handeled. Satte Workers are affected by the cut into family life that the Governor supposedly supports. However as in most cases Utahans will say "my leaders say I'm suppose to do this so I'll support them." So to help everyone understand; Governor Huntsman is not a religious leader. He is someone who has never had to live a life as an average Utahan. He is not in touch with the average Utahan. Why he has such support is a mystery to me.

To Anti-PC Infidel:

Apparently you haven't been a case worker for the Department of Workforce Services. It's NON-STOP work from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm. If I don't have any more cases to work, I am to either help other caseloads get caught up or call customers on my own caseload and do semiannual/annual reviews by phone for those who have reviews coming up in the following month. There's NEVER a moment in my work day when I don't have more work to do.

Shame on you for blanketing all state workers with your inconsiderate thinking.

My husband's company just switched to a 4-day work week a few months ago. While the four days seem a little long, having three generally uninterrupted days (sometimes he does have to go in on Fridays for a few hours) has been wonderful for our family. Our family time together on week-nights is slightly decreased, but in return my young children get their dad for an entire extra day once a week. They're certainly proponents of the four-day work week.

RE Confused: "B) What about the State Employees that are single and have children? they don't get to use the services they need from the state because they are either dropping off their kids or picking the up. So the offices are closed on Friday. Hmmmm.. Did anyone think of that?"

I believe that no one thought of that, because it doesn't make any sense. What are you even saying?

That is sad that Confused has to burn a vacation day to register her car, but on the other hand, she gets every Friday off. That's worth repeating...every Friday off. (I'm almost tempted to write that in all caps, but it is rude to yell like that, so I'll refrain.)

Go on vacation, goodness knows you need it. You can go drive out to Wendover in your new car, spend 3 days, come back refreshed, and not need to take a single vacation day to do it. For that matter, take your vacation day on Thursday, go to the DMV in the morning, and you'll be done and to Wendover by noon - then you can still spend 3 days there but have time to get back for church.

To Red:

The reason it costs less money to not heat/cool offices on Fridays is because it's cheaper to keep a room a Goldilocks's temperature than it is to get it there. Once it's heated up or cooled down to 68.5 or whatever you set your thermostat to, it takes minimal energy to keep it there. The actual energy to raise or lower the temperature 10-15 degrees costs more than keeping it there an extra two hours.

To Mark:

I'm sorry that workforce services makes you work 11 straight hours without a one hour lunch break or your 15 minute breaks. If they are making you work without a break, they are breaking the law. Simple as that.

Now, at my job, I hear from the non-exempt secretaries all the time how they have to work O/T to get all their work done, but their bosses won't approve the O/T. And if they take a day off, they have to work extra time the day before and the two days after to catch up everything they missed. So what do they do? They work the extra hours without getting compensated. I'm sorry, but that is completely illegal to not pay someone or give them comp time off for the extra hours they worked. If you don't do anything about it, then stop complaining, because you're allowing them to take advantage of you.

Isn't it great, though, Mark, with as much as you have to work during the week, you now get a 3 day weekend every week? Tell us, is it or isn't it nice to have your Fridays free?

>Shame on you for blanketing all state workers with your inconsiderate thinking.

And government workers are thin-skinned and have bad tempers, too!

I've worked for DCFS for 10 years. We have never had a typical straight work week for our employees. Child abuse doesn't happen 8 to 5 Monday through Friday. We have always had on-call staff through the weekend and on holidays. We now do the same on Fridays. The service is no different. As for court dates and family team meetings, again, we have always used flexible hours. It is a necessary thing for many social work professionals. I had a hard time adjusting to 10 hour days at first but the Fridays are WONDERFUL! I am getting into a routine with my commute and the extra time at work. I am a working mother with children at home who have homework and other needs every night. I'm more organized at home and find I am more available to my family when I get there. I get more done both at work and at home and I find myself taking less of my work home. Our office is flexible with people who can't work the full 10 hour days because of family needs. I travel the state and have heard virtually no complaints about the new schedule.