Recently I've heard of more business's, and government, going to four, ten-hour day, work weeks, and for obvious reason, reducing the cost of fuel for the employee, and reducing operating costs to owners (building is "shutdown" an additional day/week)

Any one see this catching on, and becoming commonplace in the US? Why, or why won't, this become the norm? Is it common in other countries?

I can handle another day on the water per week <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I think I'm on a 2 day week this week. No work to even do. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />
I preffer to think of it as self un-employed

I can't imagine what the extra daycare cost would be to have them stay from 07:00 to 18:00. That's dropoff at 06:30 and pick up at 18:30.

That's our problem... no extended family (for the most part) and two working parents.

Since the media (and certain special interest groups) have convinced us that we MUST HAVE any and every item out there RIGHT THIS VERY MINUTE, and that staying home to raise a family is stupid, we're left chasing the almighty dollar to keep ourselves from bankruptcy.

We dismiss other cultures who value personal/family time as "backward" or "inefficient". Our occupation (and salary) define who we are as individuals, so modifying that threatens our very identity.

I'm sure on our deathbeds, we Americans mutter "If I only had a few more hours at work..." <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Besides, if we did get three days off per week, a lot of people would just go and get a second job...

With most of us already putting in 10 hour days 5 days a week, why would the managment want to give up that to have employees work 10 hours a day, 4 days a week.
I would prefer it though...

The company I used to work for (before I became a full-time dad) began offering the four-day schedule about eight years ago. A lot of people took it - it was part of a big work/life balance initiative. I loved it. There were times I still put in five days anyway, but knowing I had two or three long weekends a month was awesome.

I've created my own decimal (10 day week) calender. Its the only way I could guarantee I got two days off a week.