four day work weeks. why not?

yeah, yeah, we’ve heard it before but this time, you should really listen. Scientific American recently came out with an article that talks about the environmental and economical impacts of the four day work week on our lives. And yeah, when you first think about it – Fridays are the days I don’t want to give up. The days where the pace slows down, the coffee seems unnecessary, and the insanity has begun to rest. So take that feeling, apply it to Thursday, and you have a whole new day of life to live and contribute outside of the work we do. But don’t take my word for it, hear what SA has to say:

The economic downturn started the trend, as companies looked to avoid laying off employees… Firms soon realized that when they closed on Fridays they could save money without having to reduce weekly hours. Indeed… the idea of a four-day, 40-hour workweek “has been out there for quite some time as a response to environmental issues, commuting pressures, as well as work-family balance.”

Local governments in particular have had their eyes on Utah over the last year; the state redefined the workday for more than 17,000 of its employees last August. Electric bills have dropped even further during the summer, thanks to less air-conditioning: Friday’s midday hours have been replaced by cooler mornings and evenings on Monday through Thursday. As of May, the state had saved $1.8 million.