KRC Machine Tool Services Goes to Four Day Work Week; Productivity Rises

KRC Machine Tool Services (Independence, KY) has changed the company's work schedule to a four day, ten hour per day work week. The company has several employees whose daily commute was eating up their paychecks ? which has become more and more the norm, not only in the U.S., but in many countries in Europe as well. Just a few weeks ago, truckers in England went on strike over the high cost of diesel. They simply parked their big rigs and walked away.

Managers at KRC decided to change the company?s work schedule to help workers deal with rising fuel costs. Now employees work four 10-hour shifts over the five days. ?A couple of weeks ago, when the gas prices kept going up everyday,? says Jimmy Trusty, engineering manager. ?The guys started saying, ?this is killing us.??

The new shift arrangement doesn?t just help the employees; the company is saving on energy bills and overtime, too. Plus, still being in operation five days a week gives the company a new kind of flexibility. ?We function pretty normally all week, while each individual puts in a 40-hour week but works it so he or she gets a day off every week,? Trusty says.

"It's working out great. I get an extra day off of work, save money in gas, save two hours in travel. Everything's good, it's all good,? Kenny Booth says.

Company managers said that other companies should consider the change. In addition to the money saved, they report that productivity has risen as well.

www.krcmachinetoolservices.com