Pitt Faculty Expert Available to Comment on Factors Influencing Growing Interest in 4-Day Work Week

PITTSBURGH--The idea of eliminating a day from the work week is taking hold in some segments of the workforce. James Craft, professor of business administration in the University of Pittsburgh's Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business, is available to discuss factors that influence the growing interest in the condensed work week.

State workers in Utah recently embarked on a 4-day work week, and local governments in several Ohio, Hawaii, Florida, and Oklahoma cities are giving the condensed work week a trial run.

High on the list of reasons to consider a 4-day work week is rising energy costs and industrial cost consciousness, says Craft. The resulting decrease of commuting would reduce greenhouse gases and air pollution-as well as the consumption of oil.

Another advantage is the reduction of organizational and employee costs, says Craft. "Companies and organizations would reduce heating and cooling costs by not having employees on the premises one day a week. Over a year, the savings can be sizeable. A condensed work week is also thought to reduce absenteeism, thereby reducing organizational costs," says Craft.

Craft says younger workers consider a condensed work week to be a lifestyle enhancement. Adopting it would thereby give businesses an advantage in the recruitment of young talent.

A condensed work week will not work for every industry, says Craft. "A 4-day work week will have to be consistent with the business strategy/objectives. A business that requires intensive on-call service for customers might have problems; product-based businesses may more easily adopt a condensed work week."

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8/19/08/tmw