12
third d'jzezzica
thunday, October 14, 1976
Will the
rour-
week stack
day work
up?
t r
7 T
4t.ltfr-
By Terry Kccfe
A few years ago people began talking about the four
day work week. Businesses considered the possibility of
replacing eight-hour with ten-hour days four days a week.
It seemed then that it would become the trend.
Today, for the most part, people still are only talking
about the four-day work week, or 4-40 as it is called.
In 1973, 575,000 of the full-time wage and salaried
workers in the United States were on 4-40. By 1975 the
number hod increased to 771 ,000, but that stUl represented
only 1 J per cent of the total pool of full-time workers.
Originally, the 4-40 was envisoned to improve em
ploye morale and increase production. But most Lincoln
employers interviewed don't think there is sufficient evi
dence that 4-40 does either.
Dick Whitcomb, director of human research at Hygain
Electronics, Lincoln, said his company has considered
4-40 for several years. But Whitcomb said he sees few ad
vantages to it. Everybody would like the additional leisure
time, he said. But his company does government contrac
ting work, which means that any time an employee works
beyond eight hours in a day must be paid for as overtime. '
Management personnel at Hygain work ten hours a
day already, he said. On 4-40, they probably would work
12 to 13 hours, fee said.
Although cot feasible cow, if other businesses switch
; to 4-40, and the law concerning overtime pay were
changed, Hygain would seriously consider a four-day
weelWMtcombsaid.
Goodyear The and Rubber Co. has never considered
using 4-40. A spokesman saM he thinks it would increase
employes. Whether Goodyear ever uses it will depend on
"how much production and how many people are
working," he said.
Some observers fear the 4-40 would lead to the 32
hcxr week. Many point to the auto industry. Last week
the United Autoworkers reportedly took a major step
toward that in their tentative settlement with the Ford
Motor Co.
Ed Gass, personnel director at American Stores, said
since the idea of 4-40 came out Iris company has tried to
keep informed. Gass saw little advantage in 4-40, however.
Many American Stores employes work six-or seven-day
weeks. American Stores must stay open more than four
days a week, because the stores they deal with are open
more than four days a week, he said.
One more day on the shelf for a product is one less day
in the life of that product.
Gass said he is certain 4-40 will get into the meat pack
ing industry in the near future. The Amalgamated Meat
cutters Union is working for itl
"Before World War I, a seventy-hour factory week had
been common; in 1920, the average was sixty hours; ia
1929 just before the Crash, it would be forty-ejht. The
Saturday half holiday was becoming a part of American
life; the full holiday was becoming mere common. . .
Before the eyes of America a bright new world of mass
leisure was unfcMfag.
Robert A. Car
The Power Brcker
Employers shun the 4-40 for other reasons. Businesses
would have to keep buildings heated and cooled longer.
Places which have direct contact with the public cannot
feasibly close an extra day. If a full staff is needed all the
time, a switch to 4-40 would mean more employes
and probably no production increase.
On the other hand, some companies that have used
4-40 claim drastic drops in absenteeism and tardiness.
Construction companies would be able to take advantage
of longer daylight hours in the summer.
Allan Henk, secretary-treasurer of the Amalgamated
Meatcutters and Butcher Workmen of America (Local
106) listed more time off and a decrease in unemploy
ment as two advantages of 4-40.
"We brought it up at our last convention, he said.
"But it didn't get very far.
i::ustrct!on by Hnrry Witt
Henk said it probably will be brought up again next
year. "Most people follow the pattern of the auto indus
try," he said.
Gene Landkamer, manager of the Nebraska Job
Service, had a different view. Landkamer, 49, said, "Most
people my age can't afford the extra leisure time.
Younger people would cherish the extra day off, he
said, but he would spend more money if he had an extra
day. Unless he is busy and has something planned for the
weekend, he gets bored, he added.
landkamer is certain the four-day work week will
come about, first on the East and West coasts. It might be
quits a while before it reaches Nebraska, he predicted, be
cause Nebraska "is not a leisure state". Some states in
the East are experimenting with 4-40, he said..
One place in Lincoln was found to use 4-40. BUI
Warren, director of food service at St. Elizabeth Hospital,
said that "one segment of our kitchen help has been on
4-40 for a couple of years.
Warren 'said he felt the extra day off is an advantage,
but he couldn't say if 4-40 cuts down on sick leave or
increases production.
- Warren has seen drawbacks to 4-40.
"Working ten hours in one day gets one more tired,
he said. Also, if someone calls in sick the hospital pays
20 per cent more in overtime for someone to take then
place. The director said there is "(difficulty in getting
people to work" as rIsy technicians, the position
scheduled on 4-40. But he didn't know whether it is the
type of job or the ten-hour days.
Warren said the food service wd continue to use 4-40,
but modified. He wasn't sure just how. Warren also said
they don't plan to expand 4-40 to include other food ser- .
vice employes.
Both employees and employers have reservations about -a
switch to a four-day work week. Some aren't willing to
predict if 4-40 will definitely become the trend, but none
are willing to predict it won't.
Success
By E. K . Cescccb
4
r
I
Jr.,
tsd
tniar, a
ff xr.S a jab tist "cits my pssc.M
C3TS.
Jim Pittengsr, Jr. describes himself as
the world's best."
He didn't say at what he was the best,
but it's possible he meant his job as a bond
broker' with Dean Witter and Co.
Pittenger, 28, a 1970 UNL graduate ia
business administration and marketing, said
his collage career was "very average, if not
a little below. I maintained a low profile.
It would be very flattering to say my
average was about a 3.0."
He is the son of UNL Athletic Dept.
ticket manager Jim Pittenger and his wife
Barbara. He was born in Lincoln and
attended Sheridan Grade School and
Lincoln Southeast High School.
During college, Pittenger had no long
term plans, he said.
"My ambitions were to stay ia school,
graduate without going fato the Army and
then to work," he said.
After graduation Pittenger went to
Hawaii for three months.
"I was gals to go over there and find
the cs&sd knd " he said. "I didn't like
living ca an cisnd, so I esse horse and
worked at WLitshesd Ol Co. driving a
' track.
"I vra stsvrT2 to dzzth dzixtiz the
incuts
track, tzi Cjs h$& fed mada szz
I stirtrd tIyss azouad town."
122 tst his first whita-ccZar job h
Ftirsiry, 1971 ia the fcrrtr:cst dirt
cntof the Fit liiticEd Bmk cf Lfccda.
Ia Jd Fitter sdJ, the Any d:cL':d
thsy vers gsiss to give me ta cjperiuni-
ty tO SSXY9.
"If ycad Vis a kca of men moved
anywhsrs Fra year cssa" he said he told
lie served his ROTC committment cf
three months, returned and worked at the
bank until he accepted his present job in "
January, 1976.
Pittenger worked in Omaha until May,
when he and fraternity brother Gary Meyer
opened an office in Lincoln.
The office on the fourth floor of the
Cooper Plaza is gold-carpeted with pale
yellow waQs. Pittenger sits in his black
swivel chair with one leg propped on the
desk.
On the left wall is a 12-ft. long, 3-ft.
wide board ticking off orange symbols
representing the latest activities of the New
York and American Stock Exchanges.
Pittenger, wearing a light blue shirt,
dark blue tie and tan pants and vest, said
he is making "considerably more" than the
$18,000 a year he made at the bank.
He says he likes his job of buying and
selling municipal bonds for Lincoln and the
state. . .
"It's very mterestrng," Pittenger said. "I
enjoy coming to work ia the morning. It's
rewarding, fast-moving and competitive.
It suits my personality "
: - Pittengsr might stfl pass for a ccSsge ;
stsdent with his wavy, sndy hair and blue
eyes framed by gold wtre-rinsned fssas.
He said that whsa he gradated he
ifiad he had more prssticd. kncsr&ds cf
the business world. The university is
sheltered from the real world, he ssiL
Siudsnts need mere practkil
experience, and Lisccia businesses shodd
hslp by hiring cdlege students part-tsne,
hassid.
Pittisgtr said his advice to the grsdu&ts
fa his field is "to lock for situations vhish ;
tend to be slow-dsvdcping and would
produce leng-tenn security, rather thaa
trying to sdl himself for the hthest
do2ar.