Soaring fuel prices drive some to try four-day workweeks

Escalating gas prices are prodding businesses and local governments to take a drastic step to curb costs: Many are cutting back to four-day workweeks, with employees generally working four 10-hour days instead of five eight-hour days.

In most cases, they’re acting because of pressure from employees who want shorter workweeks, which generally mean lower driving costs. Companies and local government offices are shortening individual workweeks with staggered schedules, but in most cases, staying open five days.


It’s a sign of how deeply gas prices are cutting into employees’ pay and businesses’ bottom lines. The last time four-day workweeks came into vogue was during the gas run-up in the 1970s.