Work schedules adapting to high gas prices

BIRMINGHAM, Ala., June 2 (UPI) -- U.S. workers are pushing for four 10-hour days at work to save one-fifth of their commuting costs as gas prices rise, various officials said.

Birmingham, Ala., has adopted a four-day work week, starting July 1, USA Today reported Monday.

"We are doing it in an effort to help employees save some money on gasoline," said Deborah Vance from the mayor's office.

The Highway Department in Walworth County, Wis., will also move to a four-day week to save gas, as will about 150 workers for the city of Avondale, Ariz.

"It'll have a real positive impact," Avondale's economic development director, Claudia Whitehead, said.

Businesses are now staggering schedules to keep their doors open or their phones staffed for a full five days, but more than a quarter -- 26 percent -- allow their employees the option of a four-day work week, the Society for Human Resource Management said.