Augusta County Forester Patti Nylander just got word about a new cost-saving strategy for the state Department of Forestry.

Nylander says, "The state forester went to the governor and he said, 'Here is something we could try,' and he said, 'Let's go ahead and try it and see if it's something that will work.'"

So the Department of Forestry is going to try a four-day work week running Monday through Thursday. Staff will work ten-hour days.

Being out of the office on Fridays is projected to save the department $30,000 in gas, heat and air-conditioning bills by June.

Nylander adds, "We're a small agency and we really can't afford to lose people. So I think if we can find alternatives to save money to keep our people, then I think anything that can work we are going to try and do."

Nylander says it could be an alternative to layoffs. However, the day-to-day services like harvesting jobs and landowner appointments may have to be adjusted.

Nylander says, "Those are the kind of things we do day-to-day, so it is going to vary. Those appointments are going to have to take place Monday through Thursday rather than doing them on Fridays, too."

Nylander says they won't be unreachable during emergencies.

She adds, "Fire calls, we are still going to respond to fires regardless if we are working or if we have our day off."

If the shorter work week proves to be effective, Nylander says it may mean other agencies could do the same thing.

She says, "It's a pilot program. We are going to see how it works and go from there."

Nylander says some employees, such as herself, will have the option to keep a five-day work week. The only difference would be that those employees would telecommute from home on Fridays.

The four-day work week will start October 19 and run through end of June.