State workers return to 5-day workweek
By Associated Press and Mary Richards
SALT LAKE CITY -- Utah state employees return to a five-day workweek after spending the last three years working on a four-day schedule.
All state offices will be open Monday through Friday beginning Tuesday, although workers will still have a shortened workweek because of the Labor Day holiday.
Lawmakers scratched the four-day workweek earlier this year, saying it was not saving as much money as hoped and that residents were complaining about not having access to services on Fridays.
Sen. Scott Jenkins recently said, "The fact is we have had several years to stew on this. There were multiple bills filed this year, and we just feel now is the time to do it."
Agency directors can offer flexible schedules to employees as long as offices remain open five days a week, although it isn't clear how many employees are being given the option.
Former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman launched the four-day workweek for thousands of employees in 2008 to improve efficiency, reduce overhead costs and conserve energy.
A new report from CareerBuilder.com says a shorter workweek is more flexible, lets employees take care of family and personal business so they don't have to miss work for those things.
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Written by The Associated Press with contributions from Mary Richards . (Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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