NBC29Fighting Gas Prices with 4-Day Work Week

Fighting Gas Prices with 4-Day Work Week

With a large chunk of people's income going toward gasoline, the largest employer in Charlottesville is setting a precedent by consolidating work schedules. At the University of Virginia they're taking the standard 9 to 5 work day and mixing it up. They're stretching out the days and shortening the work week.

"What we've been doing is still providing coverage during the day from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. with four 10-hour shifts, and we overlap so that one of our employees is off one," said Leonard Sandridge. 

In theory, a four-day work week cuts a weekly commute by 20 percent.   "Some of our employees come fairly long distances," shared Sandridge. "These are employees who come from Augusta County and it saves them one trip a week and that means something to them today on the price of gas."

In departments such as the medical center, consolidating a schedule might not be an option. So the university is advertising other alternatives, like carpooling a few days. "The occasional parker program allows people to commute alternatively sometimes but also be able to park on those days where they feel like they need their car," said Rebecca White. 

UVA cites a noticeable increase in all alternative options in the last six weeks. Kathleen Jump, an executive assistant on Grounds, started carpooling once a week from Crozet. Now she carpools almost everyday. 

"It is something to get used to not having a car at work," said Jump.  "You quickly get used to that and do things other ways. The biggest change is that at lunch time I eat locally."

UVA officials say it wasn't a specific number at the gas pumps that pushed them to change work schedules, but a noticeable strain on employees. University employees also ride free on Charlottesville Transit buses.

Reported by Liz Nagy
See Bio / Email