This small county in WA state just announced a 32-hour work week. Here’s what will happen

One of Washington state’s island counties is adopting a 32-hour work week beginning this October. It’s one of the first counties in the nation to do so, part of an emerging trend that includes private companies in multiple states.

Employees represented by AFSCME 1849, the regional union branch of municipal, state and county employees, are included in the change, which includes most of the county employees outside of the Sheriff’s Office, according to a press release from San Juan County.

“The workplace of today is not the same workplace that existed even two years ago,” stated Mike Thomas, San Juan County manager, in the press release.

Other reasons noted for the change include fiscal health, recruitment and retention and the well-being of islanders. Leaders also cited a pilot study from the United Kingdom showing the positive impacts of a 32-hour work week, like high productivity and less absenteeism.

So, what changes and why?

County services will not be cut back with this change. County offices will continue to operate under regular hours. If necessary, a department may adjust their hours, which will be done with proper notice and consistency.

Thomas said the transition is a response to the current economic climate. Like the rest of the country, San Juan County has been seeing supply chain issues, high housing costs and rising service costs. Rather than ask for a tax increase, the county opted to evaluate the work week.

“To stay within its current taxing authority, the County is taking the bold step of holding wages relatively constant but reducing the work week by 8 hours,” states the press release. “This effectively gives the employee a sizeable increase in hourly wages.”

The county has experienced difficulty recruiting and retaining employees even before the pandemic, due to the remote nature of the island community and its high cost of living. By making a move as big as a shortened work week, San Juan County hopes to alleviate the stress of some of these difficulties.

It’s also crucial that the workforce is strengthened now, as the county is expecting 15% of its workforce will be able to retire within three years, according to the press release.

“The County is getting creative in how we strengthen our workforce, entice new employees, retain existing employees, and stay within our operating budget,” stated the county Director of Human Resources and Risk Management, Angie Baird, in the press release.

Following the implementation, the county will monitor its recruitment and retention, service delivery and employee wellness.

“It is no longer tenable to offer employees pay and two weeks of vacation,” states the press release. “New employees, especially Gen X and Z, are looking for employers that share the same values and who support the whole person – not just the employee.”

The transition is part of ongoing efforts to prioritize islander wellness, especially within county employees, and improve work-life balance.

This story was originally published August 22, 2023 at 11:38 AM.