San Juan County in Washington state, after a two-year experiment, has officially decided to keep a 32-hour workweek for most of its government employees. In 2023, about 160 workers switched to the reduced schedule without a cut in pay. The measure served as an alternative to the significant pay raises the union demanded amid inflation, which the county’s budget could not afford. Officials say the approach saved the treasury roughly $2 million that would have gone to raises, while sharply improving recruitment and retention in this remote community: job applications rose by more than 200%, and turnover declined by 28%.
Employees value the extra free time, using it for family care, hobbies, side jobs, running errands on the “mainland,” and volunteering. For the employer, another benefit has been reduced use of sick leave, which helps get work done even with the shorter week. Although some departments faced challenges coordinating schedules to serve 18,000 residents, and sheriff’s office staff continue to work 40 hours a week, the overall experiment is deemed successful.
The collective bargaining agreement that introduced the 32-hour week expired at the end of 2025, but a new three-year contract approved last month codifies the practice. “We will continue to work on leveraging the benefits of this schedule and to serve the public effectively and responsibly within our financial means,” said County Manager Jessica Hudson. San Juan County became one of the first local governments in the U.S. to adopt a 32-hour week, following the example of several other countries and, for example, the Quinault Indian Nation, which moved to the schedule last year.
Based on: San Juan County will stick with 32-hour government workweek