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Randall Jeppesen reportingSeveral Utah cities have turned to the four-day work week, and a BYU study shows the system is a big hit.
Working 10 hours a day, four days a week can help a city or businesses cut costs, according to BYU professors Rex Facer and Lori Wadsworth.
The BYU study found that more than 60 percent of the employees on the four-day work week reported higher productivity as a result of the alternative schedule.
The study also suggests four 10-hour days fits better with the younger generation. Facer says, "They are demanding a much better work-life balance." The employees in the study were less likely to report they come home tired, that work takes away from personal interest and that work takes time they would like to spend with family.
"The challenges of balancing work and home lives have become much more complex," Facer said. "Finding ways to better manage work-family conflict is important in building stronger organizations and satisfied employee bases."
In Spanish Fork, where they studied that city's four-day work week, most workers loved the extra day off. "[They were] more happy with their job, and they were less likely to leave to look for another job," Facer said.
Salt Lake, West Valley, Provo, West Jordan and Draper are among other Utah cities which offer similar programs.
According to Facer, Utah cities embraced the new schedule to both save money on utilities and also go give citizens a wider range of times to access city hall.
He says he expects more groups to look for alternative work schedules, and the two professors are expanding their study nationwide.
The study is published in this month's issue of Review of Public Personnel Administration.
E-mail: rjeppesen@ksl.com
