News 12 First at Five, July 1, 2008

AUGUSTA, Ga.---Several city departments in Richmond County are going to a 4-day work week. How long will it last, and who will it impact? News 12 has the answers.

"Four day work week...save money, save money, save money," said Kayretha Lester. She has been singing the same tune for months. Kayretha travels 50 miles a day back and forth to work at the Richmond County Tax Assessor's office.

"I need to find a job closer to home," joked Kayretha. The possibility of losing workers like Kayretha is no laughing matter, and so the city of Augusta is getting serious. They are ushering in a 4 day/10 hour work week.

"Obviously it's driven by the gas prices," said city administrator Fred Russell. There are road blocks. Some offices must stay open to the public 5 days a week. That means workers like Kayretha will be on a schedule rotation. They can even elect not to participate.

"This is simply a perk that will benefit the employees and won't cost us anything," said Calvin Hicks with the tax assessor's office.

It will not just apply to the tax assessor's office, but it will also apply to the city's I.T. department, and at the Community and Housing Development Office; as a matter of fact, the Community and Housing Development Office will be closed on Friday's.

"At first when I heard about it I was 'iffy'," said manager LaSandra Corley; however, she is now joining the 4 day work week chorus. Her initial concern was customer service, but Corley says, "If we're working four day weeks...longer hours...during the day they can come before work and even after work."

And so LaSandra, Kayretha, and at least 100 hundred other workers in three different city departments will try a little something different...a 4 day work week that also means a 3 day weekend. That is music to most people's ears.

This is a 30 day pilot program that will kick-off on July 14, 2008.