Cut the five-day workweek to four
by Hillel Buechler
Forum Editor
Columnists | 2/9/10
Posted online at 12:41 AM EST on 2/9/10
So to that end, if the University wanted to embrace the full merits of a four-day workweek, it should phase out Fridays as a workday for most University departments.
Some buildings in the Mandel Quad, as well as other places around campus, could then be completely closed an entire extra day of the week.
The University could save a notable amount of money from having one less day of temperature control and maintenance for a number of large buildings on campus.
And if the four-day workweek extended to other campus entities like administrative and advisory offices, then the savings start rolling in at an even greater pace.
Faculty course loads would remain the same, and thus their pay would logically be unchanged. Yet how such a change would ultimately be reflected through employee pay gradients would remain to be seen. The University could simply choose to continue its current demands on different segments of the academy with a new, increased focus on time efficiency.
Switching to a four-day workweek might be perceived as a rather radical change for the University.
But I'm willing to say that it's far less radical-and perhaps just as effective-as any of the cuts that will be announced in the coming weeks.
The difference is that the switch to a four-day workweek might make things rather tough across much of the University's infrastructure.
Additionally, in light of recent economic woes, many school districts across the country switched to four-day workweeks to save money on transportation costs as well as other costs that would be comparable to the costs saved at this University.
That might seem like the messier and more frustrating option. The switch to such a system would be chaotic and hopelessly inconvenient, at least at first.
On the other hand, phasing out entire academic programs might seem like cleaner cuts for the University to make.
But that doesn't make them the right cuts-it only makes them the simple ones.
I'm a fan of my treasured 12:10 to 1:30 p.m. class on Fridays. But I'd be willing to trade that in for a better Thursday night and the potential preservation of programs that might otherwise be wholly eliminated.
Wouldn't you?
Some buildings in the Mandel Quad, as well as other places around campus, could then be completely closed an entire extra day of the week.
The University could save a notable amount of money from having one less day of temperature control and maintenance for a number of large buildings on campus.
And if the four-day workweek extended to other campus entities like administrative and advisory offices, then the savings start rolling in at an even greater pace.
Faculty course loads would remain the same, and thus their pay would logically be unchanged. Yet how such a change would ultimately be reflected through employee pay gradients would remain to be seen. The University could simply choose to continue its current demands on different segments of the academy with a new, increased focus on time efficiency.
Switching to a four-day workweek might be perceived as a rather radical change for the University.
But I'm willing to say that it's far less radical-and perhaps just as effective-as any of the cuts that will be announced in the coming weeks.
The difference is that the switch to a four-day workweek might make things rather tough across much of the University's infrastructure.
Additionally, in light of recent economic woes, many school districts across the country switched to four-day workweeks to save money on transportation costs as well as other costs that would be comparable to the costs saved at this University.
That might seem like the messier and more frustrating option. The switch to such a system would be chaotic and hopelessly inconvenient, at least at first.
On the other hand, phasing out entire academic programs might seem like cleaner cuts for the University to make.
But that doesn't make them the right cuts-it only makes them the simple ones.
I'm a fan of my treasured 12:10 to 1:30 p.m. class on Fridays. But I'd be willing to trade that in for a better Thursday night and the potential preservation of programs that might otherwise be wholly eliminated.
Wouldn't you?
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
Brandesian
posted 2/09/10 @ 8:11 AM EST
Interesting idea, but I beg to argue a bit. There are other exercises on campus aside from classroom academics. There is academic research, student advising and mentoring, departmental meetings, etc. (Continued…)
Mike
posted 2/10/10 @ 7:28 PM EST
Two classmates and I actually came up with this proposal (see the gigantic copy-paste below) last year for the CARS committee and got feedback from some faculty. (Continued…)
no brainer
posted 2/11/10 @ 12:51 AM EST
I totally think this is a good idea. I much rather see something like this then raising tuition.
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