Oregon Public Broadcasting

Some Washington State employees will soon enjoy a perk many workers might like – four day work weeks.

Governor Chris Gregoire Wednesday authorized a pilot study to see if four, ten hour days saves the state money. Olympia correspondent Austin Jenkins has details.

At first just 9 state agencies will participate in the experiment. They include the Department of Personnel, Fish and Wildlife and Veterans Affairs.

Approximately 650 employees will be eligible for the four tens option. Earlier this summer Utah went to mandatory four-day work weeks. Gregoire says she wanted to test the waters first. 

Chris Gregoire: “We really wanted to pilot it, not have the kind of growing pains if you will that Utah’s experienced and see if we can really make it work here and see if we get the results that we think we want to. And it’s too early to tell whether Utah’s been able to achieve any results yet.”

Gregoire hopes to see energy savings, happier workers and fewer commute trips. Her Republican challenger Dino Rossi says shorter weeks are fine with him, but it won’t solve the state’s budget woes.

The governors in Oregon and Idaho say they have no plans to jump on the bandwagon.