Utah governor decides to keep 4-day workweek

SALT LAKE CITY — Utah Gov. Gary Herbert says he will not end the state’s four-day workweek for state employees, although he will keep a Division of Motor Vehicles site open on Fridays.

Utah is the only state in the country where nearly all state employees work 10 hours a day, four days a week.

The move was made last summer by former Gov. Jon Huntsman in an effort to reduce energy costs by closing state offices on Fridays. Herbert said Wednesday he would continue with the schedule.

While state officials had hoped to reduce energy costs by $3 million, the program only realized about $502,000 in savings in its first year. That’s largely because the state wasn’t able to close as many buildings as it anticipated, energy prices declined and it took a while for state workers to break habits such as leaving their computers turned on after they left work. Overall, the state reduced its energy consumption by about 10 percent during the first year of the pilot-program.

However, the cash-strapped state found savings elsewhere, including $200,000 on janitorial services. Counting reduced overtime, the total savings was $4.8 million, although it is unknown how much of that reduced overtime is directly tied to the new schedule.

Maintaining the four-day workweek is expected to give Herbert a little extra breathing room as he faces what’s expected to be an $850 million budgetshortfall. Herbert is expected to release his budget recommendation next week, and the legislative session will begin in January.

“This is a ’win-win-win’ all the way around,” Herbert said in a statement. “It is a win for the citizens, who will continue to have extended service hours

Monday through Thursday, and now access to the DMV and Drivers License Division on Fridays.”

While the switch to the four-day workweek caught nearly everyone in the state off guard when Huntsman announced it last year, surveys and public opinion polls have shown state workers and the public generally like it.

More than 60 percent of state residents recently polled said the four-day workweek was a good idea, compared with 28 percent who said it was a bad idea.

State workers have also become increasingly favorable toward the program, which gives them three-day weekends. A recent survey shows 82 percent of state workers wanted to continue the four-day workweek.

“As soon as they told me he extended it I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face. I love it,” said Carolyn Dennis, customer service manager in the Division of

Occupational and Professional Licensing. “I have two young boys so it gives me a full day to spend with them that I normally wouldn’t.”

The shortened week has also saves Dennis gas money on her daily commute from suburban West Jordan. She’s not alone.

The state estimates that, collectively, employees will save between $5 million and $6 million annually by not commuting on Fridays and the initiative will cut greenhouse gas emissions by more than 12,000 metric tons.