Wayne County switches to four-day work week

“This is not going to be easy for employees. It may not be easy for some of our customers,” Smith said Wednesday.

The change is a result of rising fuel costs. While employees will still work a 40 hour week, workdays will be longer to accommodate for the extra day off.

“We’ve had questions about daycare and childcare,” Smith said.

Smith said closing the County Office Building, which houses the health and social services departments, should save a lot in energy costs.

The first phase of the plan will be in affect for a year, Smith said. The county said it hopes to implement a second phase of its utility savings plan later this year.

The community is split on the idea.

Wayne County resident Phil Kastner thinks the decision is a “great idea.”

Aletra Jones, of Goldsboro, said she is not comfortable knowing the health department will be closed on Fridays.

“People do need the service Monday through Friday, you know… so I don’t think it’s fair at all for them to be closing,” Jones said.

“This is not going to be without growing pains. We know that,” Smith said.