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OPM to Congressman Hoyer: Thanks for the (Unworkable) Idea

By Ralph Smith

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

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Looking forward to a 4-day workweek (but working 10 hours a day)?

Congressman Steny Hoyer (D-MD) recently asked OPM to do some research and to try and implement such a system on a more widespread basis throughout the government to save gas and energy. In his letter to OPM he wrote: "I write to obtain your views on the feasibility of such a policy on the federal level, and an assessment of whether additional statutory authority would be required to accomplish such an objective."

But, reports Federal Times, OPM doesn't think the Congressman's idea is such a good one.

OPM wrote back: "We have concluded that such a proposal would be detrimental to the Federal Government's ability to provide essential services, would weaken national security safeguards, and impact recruitment and retention efforts within the Federal workforce."

Part of the reason for OPM's reluctance is that it does not want to force employees into a "one size fits all" work schedule."Forcing employees into a four-day workweek" would create problems for some employees with children or aging parents.

Also, the compressed schedule would hamper the services being provided to the public and could result in hampering national security in the name of energy conservation.

Finally, says OPM, the agency is already promoting workplace flexibility in agencies and that fifty percent of the federal workforce is already using some form of flexible work schedule. OPM concluded: "[W]e believe each Federal agency is in the best position to determine the extent to which it uses these flexibilities to achieve the optimum balance between employee flexibility and the agency's ability to effectively carry out its mission."

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Readers' Comments

  • i think NSPS was causing morale problems even BEFORE it was implemented!...
    Posted: September 5, 2008 2:38 PM
  • I do agree with allowing a four-day work week; however, in larger metropolitan areas, it could result in those folks working 4 10's sitting in traffic for more hours during the days they work, since they would be hitting traffic at peak times, either coming or going. That may or may not change thei...
    Posted: September 5, 2008 8:28 AM
  • OPM is a minority of a majority that would welcome an extra day to spend with family. System couldn't be any worse than the OPM NSPS sytem that takes 3 x more time out of a supervisor and employee work schedule to maintain. It's a joke. It doesn't speed up hiring, as promised, it actually takes m...
    Posted: September 4, 2008 9:32 PM

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