State explores 4-day work week to save money

Arizonans looking for state services might find their options reduced by about 20 percent.

Gov. Janet Napolitano has directed the Department of Administration to study whether the state should put at least some of its employees on a four-day workweek. That would put Arizona in line with Utah, where Gov. Jon Huntsman ordered the change to save money while reducing energy use and pollution.

The study comes as other levels of government are weighing such a move. Queen Creek took steps more than two weeks ago with a Monday-through-Thursday pilot program. The Casa Grade Unified School District is debating a similar proposal.

A state recommendation could be ready by the end of the month.

"There's obviously pros and cons," Napolitano said, adding that while the concept might work for certain services, it would make no sense for others. She did not spell out which services might end up on a four-day schedule.

Such a schedule promotes various types of savings. If nothing else, having workers commute 20 percent less would result in less air pollution and less fuel usage. And if state offices are closed on Fridays, that saves the cost of lighting and air conditioning or heating.

Alan Ecker, spokesman for the Department of Administration, said his agency is checking other governments that have implemented a four-day workweek.

Utah is, to this point, no help: The change will not occur until later this summer. But there are communities such as Birmingham, Ala., which have employees working 10-hour shifts four days a week.

Ecker said one thing being explored is the pattern being used there: Offices remain open five days a week, with some employees getting Mondays off and others taking off Friday. That ensures that residents are able to access services during what otherwise would be normal Monday-through-Friday business hours.

Ecker said one factor to consider is whether to force state workers into a four-day week,and he agreed with Napolitano that whatever proposal is adopted likely will not be applied to all state agencies.

"What we've found preliminary is that a one-size-fits-all (system) probably isn't the way to go," Ecker said.