By SHERRY LOSHNOWSKY, Special to the Huntington Herald-Press
In an effort to cut costs, employees of the Fort Wayne District of the Indiana Department of Transportation started working four-day work weeks on June 16.
The district, which includes Huntington County, is the first in the state to pilot the program.
With gas prices recently topping the $4-per-gallon mark, the change will mean more time on task for employees. Considering time allotted for travel, safety briefings, setup and tear down of work zones and loading and unloading equipment, there are many benefits to a longer day. Work will be monitored so progress can be measured, according to Stacie McCormick, spokesperson for the Fort Wayne INDOT office.
"It saves fuel and increases productivity," she explained.
Maintenance workers are now reporting to the job on either a Monday through Thursday or Tuesday through Friday operating schedule, with longer daily hours.
Schedules are set up as three 10-hour days and one 9 1/2-hour day.
"This is all about economizing taxpayer dollars," said District Deputy Commissioner Bob Alderman, in a press release about the change. "It is very clear that (Governor Mitch Daniels) wants to optimize every dollar of the state's money, and this is a way to do that."
Only maintenance employees are getting the extra day off - INDOT administration employees are still reporting on a Monday through Friday schedule.
The program will be in effect until November when all maintenance employees must be available for snow and ice removal operations.