Utah Rolls Out Four Day Work Week

From today forward I will forever view the state of Utah in a whole new light. The state once known best for the Great Salt Lake and Mormons can now add “progressive workplace” to the list.

Instead of working five days per week, eight hours a day, Governor Jon Huntsman ordered 17,000 of the state’s 24,000 executive branch employees to start working four days per week, ten hours per day. The goal of the new working hours is to reduce energy costs by as much as 20% annually.

Okay, so I’m all about working less and earning more and on the surface it seems the Utah plan accomplishes neither goal. After all, salaries will stay the same and hours are simply crunched into four days instead of five. But I took a closer look at worker reaction and heard comments like:

• “Now I’ll squeeze in an extra round of golf every other Friday.”
• “A full day at home with the kids will be a welcome gift.”
• “Finally a chance to check-off some items on the to-do list.”

Despite working hours and income remaining the same, I’ve got to say I’m impressed with Utah workers jumping all over the free Friday. More golf, extra time with family, and chopping down the to-do list are all worthy endeavors.

In chapter 4 of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Working Less and Earning More, I talk all about staying in your job without staying in a rut. I cover three basic ways to achieve a working less lifestyle while keeping your corporate gig:

1. The virtual office
2. The compressed workweek
3. The paid sabbatical or job share

While none of these three options necessarily lead to earning more they clearly accomplish the working less side of the equation. After all, eliminating the commute, clearly your Friday calendar, and taking six months off all qualify as great starts in achieving work life balance.