While the idea of flex-time for state workers was proposed by leaders from both sides of the aisle as a way to save gas after Hurricane Katrina, only one agency has taken up the idea with any enthusiasm.

The Maine State Housing Authority estimates nearly half of its 125 employees are working either four 10-hour days, or working five days a week with one day spent telecommuting from home.

“That’s 180,000 miles a year, 7,500 gallons of gas and 73 tons of carbon dioxide not emitted,” said Housing Authority Director Dale McCormick. It also saves workers about $20,500 in gas, she said.

McCormick said those not participating in the program are employees who have to be at work five days a week or those with scheduling problems, including child care.

“The pushback, interestingly enough, was child care and school and family stuff, which was fine with me,” McCormick said. “I didn’t want to be rigid.”

The other issue was whether it was technically possible for those who decided to work part of their shift at home to log into their office computers.

McCormick said her agency found out “we were pretty technically with it,” and employees could see their work desktops from home computers. The other obstacle – paying for work-related phone calls from home – was solved with phone cards.

What the Maine State Housing Authority didn’t have to contend with was renegotiating a contract with the Maine State Employees Union, which bargains for benefits, including work schedules. The housing authority is a quasi-governmental agency charged with providing affordable housing to Mainers and overseeing energy assistance. It is funded, in part, by real estate transfer taxes and federal energy funds, and its employees do not belong to the state employees union.

“Dale is out there in the forefront, and it’s a good thing,” said Becky Wyke, the governor’s finance commissioner. “But it just doesn’t work in every situation.”

Supervisors can allow flex time or compressed work weeks and telecommuting on a case-by-case basis depending on the department’s needs and the employee’s individual circumstances. But a policy that would affect all employees would be subject to union negotiation, under the contract.

The idea of flex time for state workers to save gas was suggested by Senate President Beth Edmonds and by a group of Republican leaders, who tacked it onto a list of ideas – the most controversial of which was temporarily suspending the gas tax.

Wyke said the idea also has been floated before. “We talked about it a year ago … when we thought fuel prices were high then,” she said. “There’s major problems with it. We can’t require it,” because of employee day care arrangements and other issues. And, it simply doesn’t work in all situations for the state.

“There’s a minimal level of service where front-line people need to greet customers or be on phones” five days a week, she said. “Or you need people who aren’t on front lines there to support” the ones that are, she said. “It can get a little sticky.”

And, as for saving on gas consumption, an employee who works four 10-hour shifts with the state isn’t necessarily sitting at home on the fifth day of what used to be his regular work week.

“We can’t control what they do on that extra day off,” she said, to assure they are saving gas.

McCormick said she was happy to have the flexibility to give the flex-time idea a shot, and would give it enough time to work.

“It’s definitely in place for the long term,” she said. “If it doesn’t work we’ll do something different. It’s a twofer or threefer. It’s family friendly. It’s saving gas and helping employees.”