Governor's Executive Order 2008-0006: Launching the Working 4 Utah Initiative

EXECUTIVE ORDER

LAUNCHING THE WORKING 4 UTAH INITIATIVE

WHEREAS, through the one-year Working 4 Utah initiative, Utah state government strives to become the model employer of qualified people, conserve energy for taxpayers and employees, and provide to the public extended hours of access to government services;

WHEREAS, through Working 4 Utah, state agency employees' working hours generally will be adjusted from five eight-hour days a week to four ten-hour days a week;

WHEREAS, state agencies will now be open from 7:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday, which allows two additional hours each of those days for public access to government services;

WHEREAS, overall access to government services is expanding for Utahns, who can access more than 800 government services online at www.utah.gov;

WHEREAS,Utah is a national leader in technology services with an award-winning website;

WHEREAS,certain essential government services, such as those within public safety, emergency management, and corrections will continue providing daily service to the public;

WHEREAS,closing state agency offices on Fridays will result in increased energy efficiency;

WHEREAS,reducing energy consumption is an important step in achieving the state goal of increasing energy efficiency by 20 percent by 2015;

WHEREAS,state agency employees will reduce their weekly commutes by 20 percent, saving the cost of one round trip per week in fuel or other transportation costs;

WHEREAS,the state has established a Working 4 Utah hotline [phone] that will be staffed on Fridays through December to provide information to the public about operational hours and online capabilities for state government services;

WHEREAS,both state agencies and employees will mutually benefit from employees being off work on Fridays. For the state, it will assist in recruitment and retention of qualified employees and employees will benefit from regular three-day weekends to enjoy the quality of life Utah is known for;

WHEREAS,changes in holiday leave will be fiscally neutral and keep employees whole;

WHEREAS,by maintaining operational hours on Columbus Day this year:

1. the State is able to both keep this program fiscally neutral and keep employees annual holiday leave accrual whole; and,

2. the public will benefit by having state agency offices open on an extra day this year;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Jon M. Huntsman Jr., Governor of the State of Utah, by the authority vested in me by the laws and constitution of the State, do hereby order that:

1. the Working 4 Utah Initiative be implemented for one year beginning on August 4, 2008;

2. general office hours of state agencies are to be modified to Monday through Thursday, 7:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m., except for essential services which need to continue current hours of operation;

3. state agencies remain open on Columbus Day 2008;

4. state agency employees receive 10 hours holiday leave on each remaining holiday during the Working 4 Utah pilot;

5. agencies should ensure optimal use of building mechanical and lighting systems by implementing plans that could include;

a. monitoring monthly energy usage;

b. modifying system operating hours as needed to support Working 4 Utah business hours;

c. targeting systems to support only the occupied zones in partially used buildings;

d. renegotiating lease agreements where possible to accommodate Working 4 Utah schedule;

e. co-locating essential services that need to continue current hours of operation.

IN WITNESS, WHEREOF, I have hereuntoset my hand and cause to be affixed the Great Seal of the State of Utah. Done at the State Capitol in Salt Lake City, Utah, this 31st day of July, 2008.

(State Seal)

Jon M. Huntsman, Jr.
Governor

Attest:

Gary R. Herbert
Lieutenant Governor

2008/0006

 

 

[DAR Note: See also Executive Order EO/003/2011, issued 03/30/2011, Providing Public Services on Fridays]

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