The state plans to expand its test of the four-day work week to another department.

Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona and other state officials will hold a news conference this afternoon to release details on the expansion, including how many employees will be affected and how well the pilot has gone so far.

The state's four-day work week pilot project kicked off Aug. 4, with 111 non-unionized human resources employees and was originally set to wrap up this month.

With the addition of hundreds more employees, the pilot is expected to be extended for at least another month.

State officials have said an expansion of the pilot to another department would paint a better picture of the benefits — and downsides — of a four-day work week.

The state has been in talks with unions and employees for several weeks to iron out the details of the expansion. Officials declined to say which department would be affected, but state Department of Health employees at Kinau Hale said they have been told they would be included in the expansion of the pilot.

The state's four-day week trial comes as states and cities across the country are increasingly considering the four-day schedule as a relatively easy way to cut energy costs, gasoline use and traffic congestion at a time when government budgets are shrinking and the price of energy remains high.

The pilot has received widespread praise from environmentalists, policymakers and state employees, who see the shortened week as a way to help the environment and significantly cut soaring energy costs.