By Phil Power - June 20, 2008
Gas is, as I write this, $4.19 at my neighborhood station, and they've dropped the $50 credit card limit on the pump.
This is getting plenty serious.
Fortunately, there is somebody taking a common-sense approach to the problem: Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson. A month ago, he proposed voluntary rescheduling for county employees so they'd work four days a week, 10 hours a day.
That would allow them to save a day's worth of gas. Last week, the Oakland County Commission unanimously approved the idea: "By allowing employees to work four 10-hour days it will save them 20% on their commute costs and ease the financial pinch of filling up their cars," a press release from Patterson’s office proclaimed.
When I talked with him last week, Brooks was enthusiastic. "Look, we've got about 4,000 county employees. If 1,500 employees take the four-day week, a conservative estimate is they'd save two gallons of gas not commuting the fifth day. At $4 gallon, that's eight bucks a week for one employee, or $12,000 a week for all 1,500. "Over a year, that adds up in a hurry."
Patterson says the idea first emerged while "some of us were kicking around the big rise in gas prices" several months ago. "We thought about what we could do to easy the financial pressure on our employees, and this seemed a pretty sensible way to go about it."
What about scheduling so county offices remain staffed?
True, "we have to work out the schedules, but that's doable," says Patterson. (Jobs that require round-the-clock staffing, such as sheriff’s deputies, won’t be eligible for the four-day week.)
What about the public employee unions? Do you have to re-negotiate your labor contracts? I wanted to know. Evidently not.
"This program is voluntary and it's pretty popular. If the unions wanted to challenge it, they'd be hard-pressed. We'll probably have to sit down and talk, but I don't see a big problem."
Patterson says he's been contacted by "hundreds" of businesses in Oakland County interested in trying the same idea. "This is something that all local government units should be trying. It should spread all across the state."
With that in mind, I called Liz Boyd, Governor Granholm's press secretary, to see if state government was interested in following suit. Her response: "The governor met with her cabinet within the past three weeks on this idea. We want to help state employees with gas prices. More than one third of state employees already work on flexible schedules, including a four-day week. Right now we’re compiling information."
A few days later, Gov. Granholm told the Detroit News she'll run with the idea: "I know we can find additional opportunities to do our work in different settings and through alternative work schedules."
The potential for savings is very large indeed. When you figure there are around 53,000 state employees, the math adds up pretty quickly. Adopting Patterson’s assumptions, if 37% of all state employees adopt the program, that’s 19,875.
Multiple that by two gallons ($8) a week, and you get nearly $160,000 in annual gas savings for state employees.
That’s at $4 a gallon, mind you, and prices are already past that barrier and marching north. Still — that sum is a tidy number, and one that certainly should excite the attention of an employer who's interested in helping out beleaguered employees.
That seems to meet the “let’s do something simple and practical” test that all public bodies should have on top of their minds.
***
Editor’s Note: Former newspaper publisher and University of Michigan Regent Phil Power is a longtime observer of Michigan politics and economics, and a former chairman of the Michigan chapter of the Nature Conservancy. He is also the founder and president of The Center for Michigan, a centrist think-and-do tank which publishes the Michigan Scorecard. The opinions expressed here are Power’s own and do not represent the official views of The Center. He welcomes your comments at ppower@thecenterformichigan.net.
7 Comments
Great post, Phil! I'd also add that in addition to money saved, 4-day-a-week workers also have more time to spend with their families and even (dare we hope) taking short weekend trips in Michigan, boosting our economy!
FTD established a summer (Memorial Day to Labor Day) four day work week about 35 years ago when they were still headquartered in metro Detroit and had a truly innovative leader. Similar to the Oakland County plan, it was done to give employees more family time while getting more enjoyment out of the summer months. This lasted for a number of years before, for whatever reason, it was dropped. Today, transportation costs alone can more than justify the four day workweek. Hooray for Patterson!
It is a good idea. If so many are concerned about this why are we not demanding that the huge profits by oil companies be attacked by Congress. Have they bought the whole place?
Psul
I like the idea of a 4 day work week. Let's take it one step further – CLOSE all those government offices on Fridays. Now, we're savings even more – in precious tax dollars. We can get to a Sec of State office Mon – Thu!
Gas is breaking most people and agencies right now.
Here are a couple ideas -
In pondering the school bus fuel costs most school systems are hurting with now, and an article about that from ABC today. – http://abcnews.go.com/Business/PainAtThePump/story?id=5228545&page=1
Idea #1 -
In situations where busing is cutting back and children under highschool age have to walk quite a way to school, there are fears of accidents hitting children, there are fears of predators and kidnappers, or also fears of bullying by older or bigger students etc.
How about school systems propose Adult volunteer programs from within school districts parents, and employees to Walk with kids for a mile or so in the radius that Systems have Cut out busing kids in because they fall within a radius deemed too close.
They can easily keep a list of students, contact numbers and addresses and walk nicely to school as a group under adult supervision and protection.
That would also get parents and community adults involved and potentially strike up new and lasting relationships as well as help motivate students and parents to participate together with School teachers and employees.
All potential.
#2 – Set up a New system of busing kids.
Use smaller commercial transport vehicles that get better gas mileage to pick up kids farther out and bring them in closer to drop off points like "carpool lots" but for Student bus pool lots instead. Districts could utilize much higher mpg vehicles to bring them in to be loaded aboard larger full size buses for a shorter, less gas hogging trip to the schools from 5-6 radial locations around the district.
The article on ABC noted the Maryland school district stated, one bus averages 6.1mpg, and they drive a combined 100,000 miles a day.
Thats insane.
I think it would help to remove all of the aging fleet that gets the worst mpg and replace with a fleet of simple, smaller, more nimble and economical vehicles and alter the way school transportation is handled.
These are things the Government could be helping fund that would reduce our nation's dependance on oil and gas.
What to do with the replaced vehicles? sell to 3rd world nations or developing ones like China, India, places in south/central america that need more transports for such concentrated populations. Get some money for them and help out those nations that need lower priced equipment.
Just a couple Ideas.
I know some school districts have also considered 4 day school weeks. I wonder if that would work for parents, sports, etc.
Heres an interesting link to a PDF presentation by a PA school district near Philadelphia back in 2001 on AFVs with some interesting statistics and ideas.
http://www.p2pays.org/ref/36/35363.pdf
Its interesting the way Brooks did it. He's actually increased the number of hours that county office buildings will have to be air-conditioned and be well lighted — from 40 plus hours to on average 50 – 70 hours since people could start an hour or two earlier or stay an hour or two later.
It's great for employees, since they will now have 3 day weekends, if they want, to spend with family and friends.
It should increase county costs during the summer, unless they run electricity and air-conditioning full throttle 24/7.
It would be nice if the enhanced hours, by department were posted, and would have been better if there was joint planning ahead of time. It might mean many offices now will be staffed to 7 p.m. or 7:30 p.m., and could start as early as 5:30 in the morning.
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