Transportation's Role in Reducing U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions ...

Transportation’s Role in Reducing U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Volume 2
workers offered the option of telecommuting (and whose job is amenable to it) would
be interested in doing so.
Some government agencies have instituted outreach programs, technical assistance, or
incentives (such as tax credits or recognition) to encourage and assist private businesses in
adopting telework. Examples include Oregon’s business energy tax credit (which includes
tax credits for telecommuting equipment), the Denver Regional Council of Governments’
RideArrangers program, and the Maryland and Virginia Telework program. The EPA’s
Best Workplaces for Commuters program included telework as one of three “primary”
strategies that could be used to achieve certification under the program. The impact of
public-sector programs on telework appears to be quite modest, however. For example,
the 2007 State of the Commute survey in metropolitan Washington, D.C. found that only
9 percent of telecommuters gained information about telecommuting through a regional
program or advertising, compared to 55 percent through their employer and 36 percent on
their own or through word of mouth (MWCOG, 2008). The office of Personnel
Management has initiated actions to increase teleworking by Federal employees, as only
about 5 percent currently telework (Orenstein, 2009).
Compressed Work Week
Definition
Compressed work weeks refers to a
scheduling system whereby a regularly
scheduled number of hours are worked
in a shortened span of time. Often,
compressed work weeks refer to 40
hours worked over the course of only
four days (4/40) or 80 hours worked
over the course of nine days (9/80).
Under a compressed work week, each
day worked is often longer than a
standard 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. schedule.
The 4/40 and 9/80 schedules are among
the most common forms of compressed
work weeks, and they give employees
one day off every week or every other
week, respectively. Compressed work
weeks have been applied successfully in
the commercial, public, and
manufacturing sectors for many years
(U.S. EPA, 1992). With recent energy
cost concerns some agencies and
Compressed Work Week
Benefits: Low: 3-7 mmt CO2e in 2030
• Low estimate = government 4-day workweek;
high estimate includes doubling of private
sector levels
Direct Costs: Low: Minimal
• Potential government cost savings from
mandatory 4-day week
Net Included Costs: Not estimated
Confidence in Estimates: Moderate
• Magnitude of future private sector adoption
uncertain
Key Cobenefits and Impacts: Positive/Mixed
• Mobility/quality of life benefits if voluntary;
potential disbenefits if mandatory
Feasibility: Moderate
• Widespread acceptance unclear
Key Policy Options:
• Government “lead by example”
• Tax incentives for private sector adoption
companies have expressed renewed interest in compressed work weeks; for example, in
August 2008 the Utah State government implemented a mandatory four-day workweek.
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