The Four Day Work Week And - It’s Contribution To Going Green
Much the same way that consumers are developing an environmental conscience, businesses are expressing a desire to improve their carbon footprints, as well. There is a win-win scenario to recycling and conservation, and many ways to do it. The costs, cost savings, ease of implementation and enforcement, and the impact on the environment vary.
In quite a few businesses and organizations across the country, the four day workweek is either already being used, or being seriously considered. It has different challenges and results, depending on the business’s internal structure. Cost is a major factor, in a company’s decision to change to a four-day workweek. Most businesses do not see a significant cost increase in their employee expenses. However, many businesses, and some government offices, would not always necessarily see a direct cost savings, in this area. If they still have to stay open five days per week, or more, they would still have to pay the same fixed expenses, same employee hours, and so on. Most companies and organizations have done this, mainly to help their employees, during a time of rising gasoline prices.
However, there are indirect cost savings to employers, most particularly private employers. Over time, a company would most likely see a cost savings, through reduced absenteeism. This is likely, as employees would have more personal time, and would not perceive themselves as overworked. Productivity would also increase, as morale rises. When employees feel satisfied with their jobs, and feel that their employers care about their life outside of the office; increased productivity is inevitable. Obviously, increased productivity always boosts a company’s bottom line. But it gets even better. There would be fewer turnovers, which means training expenses for new employees would decrease. Finally, companies would have happier customers, as they deal with happier employees.
They would also be sick less often, as their daily commute would expose them less often, to the air pollutants caused by traffic congestion. It is estimated that automobiles cause 60 to 70% of air pollutants. So, it stands to reason that sitting in traffic, with cars idling ahead of you, is a direct contributor to inhaling these pollutants. Would one less day make a significant contribution to better employee health? Well, that much is debatable; but it is one less day.
Costs and cost savings aside, the impact a four-day workweek would have on the environment, could be monumental. It should go without saying, that conserving oil is an excellent reason to institute a shorter workweek. This was first thought about, during the oil crisis of the 1970’s. So, we knew it was a good idea, then. Approximately 133,000,000 million workers commute to work alone, on a daily basis. That means that we use approximately 162,000,000 gallons of gasoline, each day. It is not hard to imagine the huge impact this has on crude oil prices. The shorter workweek would, ultimately, reduce greenhouse emissions and other air pollutants. Again, it bears repeating, automobiles cause 60 – 70% of air pollutants. However, how many companies would we need to make the switch, in order to see a definitive and positive impact? The answer would be a lot; and to date, to say that the idea is slowly catching on, would be an understatement.
How easy would this be to implement in different companies? It seems that there are advantages and disadvantages. For many employees, it just would not be doable, and employers would need to convince or coerce them to make the switch. Going to a four-day workweek, which means working ten-hour days, would make daycare a strenuous issue. Many daycare centers are not open past normal working hours; or they charge extra per hour, past the standard nine hours. For many parents, it is simply an emotional stressor, to be away from their children, for 11 hours. Employee complaints aside, many business owners may feel that this would not be advantageous to their standing with customers or clientele. Competing with other companies, which are available 5 days per week, would be enough to put a knot in any business owner’s gut.
In conclusion, if I had to give each facet of consideration a rating, when discussing the idea of switching to a four-day workweek; it would be as follows:
When it comes to cost, I would give this idea a 4. There is no real cost to employers, to switch to a four-day workweek, aside from the anticipated loss of business that may occur. I would give the idea of cost savings a 3. While businesses are not going to save a whole lot of money, at the outset, they would eventually see a cost savings, when it comes to less employee turnover and absenteeism. I would give the impact on our environment a 3, as well. It would be extremely difficult to assess, for years to come; and that’s if we can get a significant number of companies and organizations to comply. This is not to say that fewer cars on the road would not make a big difference in the health of our environment. But, it would take years to become a reality. Finally, I would give ease of implementation a 2. To both employers and employees alike, it would seem to be easier said, than done.
In quite a few businesses and organizations across the country, the four day workweek is either already being used, or being seriously considered. It has different challenges and results, depending on the business’s internal structure. Cost is a major factor, in a company’s decision to change to a four-day workweek. Most businesses do not see a significant cost increase in their employee expenses. However, many businesses, and some government offices, would not always necessarily see a direct cost savings, in this area. If they still have to stay open five days per week, or more, they would still have to pay the same fixed expenses, same employee hours, and so on. Most companies and organizations have done this, mainly to help their employees, during a time of rising gasoline prices.
However, there are indirect cost savings to employers, most particularly private employers. Over time, a company would most likely see a cost savings, through reduced absenteeism. This is likely, as employees would have more personal time, and would not perceive themselves as overworked. Productivity would also increase, as morale rises. When employees feel satisfied with their jobs, and feel that their employers care about their life outside of the office; increased productivity is inevitable. Obviously, increased productivity always boosts a company’s bottom line. But it gets even better. There would be fewer turnovers, which means training expenses for new employees would decrease. Finally, companies would have happier customers, as they deal with happier employees.
They would also be sick less often, as their daily commute would expose them less often, to the air pollutants caused by traffic congestion. It is estimated that automobiles cause 60 to 70% of air pollutants. So, it stands to reason that sitting in traffic, with cars idling ahead of you, is a direct contributor to inhaling these pollutants. Would one less day make a significant contribution to better employee health? Well, that much is debatable; but it is one less day.
Costs and cost savings aside, the impact a four-day workweek would have on the environment, could be monumental. It should go without saying, that conserving oil is an excellent reason to institute a shorter workweek. This was first thought about, during the oil crisis of the 1970’s. So, we knew it was a good idea, then. Approximately 133,000,000 million workers commute to work alone, on a daily basis. That means that we use approximately 162,000,000 gallons of gasoline, each day. It is not hard to imagine the huge impact this has on crude oil prices. The shorter workweek would, ultimately, reduce greenhouse emissions and other air pollutants. Again, it bears repeating, automobiles cause 60 – 70% of air pollutants. However, how many companies would we need to make the switch, in order to see a definitive and positive impact? The answer would be a lot; and to date, to say that the idea is slowly catching on, would be an understatement.
How easy would this be to implement in different companies? It seems that there are advantages and disadvantages. For many employees, it just would not be doable, and employers would need to convince or coerce them to make the switch. Going to a four-day workweek, which means working ten-hour days, would make daycare a strenuous issue. Many daycare centers are not open past normal working hours; or they charge extra per hour, past the standard nine hours. For many parents, it is simply an emotional stressor, to be away from their children, for 11 hours. Employee complaints aside, many business owners may feel that this would not be advantageous to their standing with customers or clientele. Competing with other companies, which are available 5 days per week, would be enough to put a knot in any business owner’s gut.
In conclusion, if I had to give each facet of consideration a rating, when discussing the idea of switching to a four-day workweek; it would be as follows:
When it comes to cost, I would give this idea a 4. There is no real cost to employers, to switch to a four-day workweek, aside from the anticipated loss of business that may occur. I would give the idea of cost savings a 3. While businesses are not going to save a whole lot of money, at the outset, they would eventually see a cost savings, when it comes to less employee turnover and absenteeism. I would give the impact on our environment a 3, as well. It would be extremely difficult to assess, for years to come; and that’s if we can get a significant number of companies and organizations to comply. This is not to say that fewer cars on the road would not make a big difference in the health of our environment. But, it would take years to become a reality. Finally, I would give ease of implementation a 2. To both employers and employees alike, it would seem to be easier said, than done.
Texas
