Dear Source:
Instead of implementing a potential 4 day workweek, why not shorten the work day instead. To shorten the workday instead of the workweek could potentially address a broader range of issues positively. If Government workers are coming out of work at 3.30 pm instead of 5.00 pm, the following could be impacted in a positive way. Most of the Government cashiers close between 3-3.30 pm already, making people have to come back another day when they don’t know that.
For those who have children in after school which they are paying for, could pick up their children from school and spare that expense since their pay would be lessened. It would help ease the impact of loss hours. If parents are heading home at 3.30 pm, older children could be off the streets earlier, be monitored more closely, have more time to address homework and potentially help impact lessening the crime affecting and/or involving children. If Government workers are off the streets before the 5.00 pm traffic, it would ease the traffic situation both for private sector and the tourist time for heading back to the ships. The Departments and Government as a whole would also save with electricity and water, which too would help with the burden on WAPA. A half hour would be the only difference between a workday cut and workweek cut.
The senate can also make an impact. Senators are voted in by specific districts yet much expense arises from traveling to the districts that did not and cannot vote for them. We are in an age of technology where many businesses conduct business via web or tele-conferencing around the world. Expenses for travel could be cut down tremendously by using these alternatives. There would be no need for air, hotel, car rental, meals, gas, and other travel related reimbursements.
The same saving costs could apply for many other Government workers who travel too that could use web or tele-conferencing as an alternative.
Instead of having a fleet of vehicles for Government workers whose jobs do not require them being on the road daily, have one or two vehicles assigned to a Dept with a driver that can drop them off and pick them up when they have to go out to meetings etc. The cost of a driver would be far more less, than a fleet of vehicles requiring gas, maintenance, insurance, registrations, and abuse of being used for personal reasons which we all know happens. No Government vehicle should be permitted to be taken home unless they are classified as “first responders”. It would also cut down on parking and unnecessary additional traffic by a having a driver drop off workers, return back to the Dept until he/she needs to pick up workers that are out at meetings etc.
These are just a few items that could make a huge impact if implemented quickly and save 500 workers from losing their jobs.
Carol Berry
St. Thomas
