Some full-time UNM employees worked only four days last week.
That's because UNM announced June 12 that employees would have the option to work 10-hour days, rather than the standard eight hours, to cut back on gas consumption.
In the pilot plan, employees would work four 10-hour days and have a three-day weekend. The proposed schedule is optional for full-time employees, and the final decision of whether to implement the plan for the summer is left up to department managers.
President David Schmidly said the plan is beneficial for employees.
"It's an experiment that can cut your gas consumption and commuting costs by 20 percent, give you more time with your families and, it's hoped, improve your quality of life," he said in his morning message June 16. "In any event, it's a good way to give our treasured staff a greater measure of freedom and control over their lives."
The plan, which went into effect June 16, is scheduled to last through Aug. 15.
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The Communication and Marketing office, Physical Plant Department and Information Technology Services are some of the first departments that have implemented the plan on campus.
Mary Vosevich, director of Physical Plant, said she has heard good things about the program so far, though there are some drawbacks.
"I think a lot of people are trying to adjust to it," she said. "It's a long day. The folks that I have talked to like the idea where they don't have to come to work one day, but on the other hand, they are working longer hours. That's an adjustment, for sure. They have to get their internal clocks re-programmed."
Benson Hendrix, spokesman for UNM, said he chose to take advantage of the option because it was useful for his job.
"It's only been a week in, but so far I am really enjoying it," he said. "I am finding that I can save at least one commute's worth of gas. Plus, it gives me a few nights a week that I can be available for the press a little later."
Vosevich said any decision to extend the program past Aug. 15 would have to be made by UNM's administration.
"Four-day weeks would possibly be an opportunity to save some operating costs," she said. "In this time, I think we are all looking at ways to save money, and UNM is not isolated on this. Other universities are looking to do the same thing, certainly. I think it would really have to be taken into consideration as a possibility when planning academic calendars next year."
Employees were asked to take alternating days off so that UNM's services were not affected. UNM's offices and libraries kept their regular hours despite the abbreviated work week.
But the plan is not available to all UNM employees.
"Due to mission-critical operations, employees on 24/7 operations and those at the Health Science Center will have this opportunity on a limited basis," a UNM press release said.
Vosevich said some Physical Plant operations are not eligible for the new plan.
"We are trying our best to accommodate anyone who wants it," she said. "Of course, there are some areas that just can't implement the abbreviated work week. For example, the folks that work in the power plants and that type of thing where we are not able to do accommodate a four-day workweek."
Student employee Lyanette Martinez, who works as a summer desk attendant at the Student Residence Center, said she would be in favor of extending the option to student employees, even though she lives on campus and does not drive to work every day.
"I think a lot of students would take advantage of it," she said. "I would be in favor of working a few extra hours a day so that I could get an extra day off once a week."
