Pontiac (WWJ) -- The Oakland County Board of Commissioners has unanimously approved a plan to allow county workers to switch to a four-day work week to save money on gas.
County Executive L. Brooks Patterson, who proposed the plan last month, expects up to half of the county's four-thousand workers to voluntarily cut their shifts. Patterson has said the move will save workers 20-percent on their commute costs.
Half of those choosing the four day work week would get Monday off, while the others would take off Friday. Workers interested in the shorter week must receive approval from their department heads to make the switch.
Patterson told WWJ's Ron Dewey Thursday morning the new schedules would start as early as next week.
He said residents would benefit because offices will stay open longer.
"We have a lot to be gained by it," Patterson said last month when he announced the plan. Not all county employees will be able to take advantage of the shorter work week because some county departments require staffing around the clock.
Patterson said last month if only 800 county employees participated, it would save $300,000 in fuel costs at $4 a gallon.
If 100,000 workers countywide went to a four-day work week, that would save 20.8 million gallons of gasoline, Patterson said. He added some major corporations were considering a similar plan, but wouldn't say which ones. "I'll let them make the announcement," Patterson told Dewey.
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