Hoyer Calls on OPM to Limit Unnecessary Commuting with Four-Day, 40-Hour Work Week for Federal Employees
WASHINGTON, DC - With the burden of increasing gas prices squeezing the budgets of commuters throughout the region, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD) has written a letter to the Director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) proposing a policy initiative to limit unnecessary commuting by urging federal agencies to adopt a four-day, 10-hour work week for their employees. The policy, which has been implemented by local and state governments across the nation, would make the federal government a partner in reducing petroleum consumption, which has been a key factor in the recent decline in gas prices. The compressed work week would also cut down on commuting costs for federal workers, as well as all commuters who would benefit from the decrease in traffic congestion. Rep. Hoyer's letter requests a comprehensive analysis of a transition to a four-day work week before August 31, including notice of any additional actions Congress would need to take to implement such a policy by the end of fiscal year 2008. While OPM has yet to respond in the two weeks since the letter was sent, Rep. Hoyer looks forward to hearing from the agency soon regarding this request. The letter is below. It was sent on August 4 to then-Director Linda Springer, who left the agency on August 13. The current Acting Director of OPM is Michael Hager. August 4, 2008 The Honorable Linda M. Springer Dear Ms. Springer: In these times of high gasoline prices, I believe the federal government should do all it can to ensure that federal agencies and departments are appropriately reducing gasoline consumption. This goal can be accomplished with the adoption of personnel policies to limit unnecessary commuting. American consumers are using less gasoline this summer, as prices have reached historic highs. Many Americans, including our hard-working federal employees, simply cannot afford to maintain their regular driving habits. State and local governments across the nation, including New Mexico, Virginia, and Utah, are implementing 4- day work weeks to conserve energy, reduce fuel consumption, and alleviate congestion. 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. In the National Capital Region, where approximately 400,000 area residents are employed by the federal government, implementation of a 4-day a week, 10-hour a day work schedule could yield several benefits. First, staggering10 hour a day work schedules would reduce road congestion, decrease commuting times, and reduce gasoline-wasting vehicle idling. On any given day of the work week, the policy could be managed such that only 80% of federal employees would be commuting to their offices. Put another way, adopting a compressed work week would take approximately 20% of federal employees off the roads on any given week day, generating significant cost savings for the American taxpayer without a drop in productivity or decrease in service. Second, federal office buildings could achieve additional energy savings by not providing peak load climate control and lighting to building areas that are not being utilized. My current understanding is that federal departments and agencies already have wide discretion to implement alternative work schedules. The Office of Personnel Management advises that "the courts have also ruled that flexible and compressed work schedules are fully negotiable." Consequently, I request that you undertake a comprehensive analysis of the transitioning to a 4-day work week for all possible federal employees and inform me by August 31, of any additional actions Congress would need to take to implement such a policy by the end of fiscal year 2008. It is important that the federal government show its solidarity with its employees in this time of economic hardship. I look forward to working with you to continue to seek new opportunities to save energy and reduce petroleum consumption where possible. Thank you in advance for your response. With kindest regards, I am Sincerely yours, STENY H. HOYER CC: The Honorable Jim Nussle, Director, The Office of Management and Budget |