With gas prices getting higher, commutes getting longer, and wages stagnating, Arkansas legislative panels are considering giving state workers a four-day workweek.

According to state Senator Tracy Steele (D-North Little Rock), most state workers make as little as $8 an hour, and with gasoline costing an average of $4.07 nationwide, these people need relief. 

Steele's proposal would give state workers a four-day workweek, which would save gasoline, reduce traffic and carbon emissions, and improve productivity and morale.

Not everyone would have a day off at the same time, which would shut offices down.  People's days off would be staggered so that the offices can stay open five days a week.  Offices would also stay open longer to accommodate the longer daily hours employees must work to compensate for a shortened workweek.  As a result, citizens will have access to government services more hours of the week.

Should Steele's proposal go through, state workers' commuting costs would be reduced by 20 percent.  But some legislators wonder whether working a four-day week would really conserve gas.  

"Is there any assurance that on this extra day off that they won't be out driving around?" asked Rep. Rick Green, (R-Van Buren).

"I don't think we're going to be putting leg monitors on them," quipped Sen. Steve Faris, (D-Malvern).

Arkansas is not the first state to consider a four-day workweek.  Seven states currently have laws allowing some form of shortened workweek for state, county or city employees, including: California, Virginia, Florida, Kentucky, New Mexico, Alabama and Michigan.

Nine more, including Arkansas, are considering the option.

A four-day workweek isn't desirable to all state workers.  People with children in daycare, those who work second jobs or who carpool to work with someone on more regular hours likely wouldn't participate in the modified schedule.  Some workers have suggested that the state provide vans to ferry workers from outlying areas to their jobs instead.