ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times

DATE: Tuesday, October 8, 1996               TAG: 9610080068
SECTION: BUSINESS                 PAGE: B-8  EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: MAG POFF STAFF WRITER

TRIGON BOOSTS WORK WEEK TO 40 HOURS

Trigon Blue Cross Blue Shield has told employees they must work nearly 7 percent longer beginning next year, imposing a 40-hour work week that has become standard in the insurance industry.

Some employees are circulating an anonymous flyer equating the longer hours - up from 37 1/2 hours a week currently - to a 9 percent pay cut because salaries will remain at current levels while work hours are extended. "Is it time for a union at Trigon to protect the employees?," the circular asked.

The longer hours take effect Jan. 6.

Vanessa Scharzer, spokeswoman for Richmond-based Trigon, said the company's business hours will remain at 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

That has also been the working schedule with a half-hour out for lunch. In the future to asked to work an extra half-hour a day.

Scharzer said 37 1/2 hours used to be standard in the insurance industry. Now, she added, most of Trigon's competitors have added the extra 2 1/2 hours to their employees' work week. Most businesses in Virginia have long used a 40-hour standard, Scharzer said.

LENGTH: Short :   29 lines