More in Four?: An Evaluation of the Four-day Work Week in a VDOT Residency

About the report:

This report describes the evaluation of an experimental 4-day, 10-hour-per-day work week used by the Virginia Department of Transportation's (VDOT) Chatham Residency between May 15, 1995, and October 6, 1995. The residency, totaling over 100 people, adopted a Monday through Thursday work week during that period. The study evaluated the effect of the modified work week on customer service, work productivity, and employee morale in the area served by the residency. At the inception of the study, the perception was that the 4-day work week would improve customer service, maintenance productivity, and individual and overall employee morale. However, neither work productivity nor customer service to the public was much affected under the conditions set during this study. Concerning employee morale and service to other VDOT staff, results showed that the modified work hours were more likely to cause a negative than a positive overall effect. Thus, the use of a 4-day work week on a residency wide basis primarily affects employee morale and should be used only when there is a high probability that its effect will be positive.

Authors