Washington State's San Juan County is moving to a 32-hour work week October 1st

"The 32-hour work week is a responsible and responsive approach to work-life balance," stated Cindy Wolf, Chair of the San Juan County Council. She emphasized that this change considers the needs of full-time island workers, allowing them to prioritize family time, local volunteering, travel, medical appointments, and overall personal and community well-being without disrupting workflow.

The county believes that implementing a 32-hour work week is essential for employee wellness and maintaining the county's operations within the current budget. County Manager Mike Thomas acknowledged that the modern workplace has significantly evolved, and employers must find innovative ways to attract and retain talented employees, such as offering remote work options and competitive compensation packages.

The idea of a shorter work week originated during contract negotiations with the employees' union, where the county had to balance raises with the budget. Angie Baird, the county's Director of Human Resources, explained that it was not feasible to provide substantial salary increases without jeopardizing the budget.

San Juan County covers several islands and has a population of nearly 18,700. The new work week policy will not affect employee salaries, and the county's motto for the change is "100% pay / 80% hours / 100% Productivity." Each department has the flexibility to manage the transition as they see fit. While most departments will continue with a five-day schedule and staggered shifts, some may choose to close for a day each week, while others may spread the 32 hours over five days. Any changes will be communicated through notices.

Emergency services and departments like public works will not be impacted by the reduced work week. The county plans to conduct regular reviews to monitor productivity, recruitment, retention, and employee wellness under the new schedule. The 32-hour work week was approved by the County Council shortly after receiving approval from the county's union.

In addition to addressing work-life balance, the move to a shorter work week is part of a broader strategy to tackle various challenges faced by San Juan County. The county has been struggling to recruit and retain workers due to the high cost of living and remoteness of the islands. The post-pandemic inflationary period has further intensified the pressure to raise wages and maintain essential services. The 32-hour work week will enable the county to increase base wages, introduce a cost-of-living adjustment, and alleviate employee burnout.

San Juan County has experienced a job vacancy rate of 10-15% across multiple departments since the pandemic. This has hindered productivity and emphasized the need for a better work-life balance. Furthermore, 15% of the island's workforce is expected to become eligible for retirement within three years.

To address these challenges, the county is implementing various measures alongside the 32-hour work week. These include an internship program for college students, providing housing for new employees, offering financial bonuses for certain positions, and conducting a compensation study to align with other local governments.

The county draws support for the shorter work week from a 2022 UK study that experimented with a four-day work week. The study concluded that business productivity remained unchanged, while employees experienced reduced stress, burnout, and improved work-life balance. Mental and physical health also showed improvement, and staff retention increased. Other studies have reached similar conclusions, although concerns about customer service and revenue impacts remain.

San Juan County is not alone in considering a shift to a shorter work week. Several states, including California, Hawaii, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, and Washington, have proposed bills to implement a 32-hour work week. Despite these efforts, no significant progress has been made at the legislative level. However, businesses have taken the lead in adopting this trend, with a survey showing that 20% of US business leaders have already transitioned to a four-day work week, and 41% plan to do so in the near future. The majority of respondents also believe that the shorter work week helps attract and retain employees.