of the four-day workweek works!

T.G.I.Thursday: Utah state workers shifted to a 4-day week one year ago. 10 hour a day, four day a week.

Now GOOD reports that having 4-day work week helps.

1: Energy savings and reduction in carbon emissions
Closing state offices on Fridays has cut energy use by 13 percent in Utah.

2: Traffic reduction and commuter health
Of course, as fewer workers commute on any given day, there’s less traffic. But the hour shift for the four-day crew also thins out the traditional rush hours, speeding up travel for everyone.

3: Budget boost
There are big savings to be had in operational costs when shaving a day off the workweek. As of May, nine months into the program, Utah had saved $1.8 million.

4: Happier, healthier workforce
Lori Wadsworth, a researcher at Brigham Young University, surveyed Utah workers who’ve transitioned to the 4 x 10 schedule and found that 82 percent prefer it.

5: Economic stimulus through savings
It costs money to go to work—commuting expenses like gas, tolls, or public transit fares are obvious, but plenty of workers also pay for five days of childcare every week.

Read the rest of the story here.

[via Newser]