SAN JUAN COUNTY, Wash. — Washington state's first county to implement a four-day workweek is "encouraged" by the results of its first six months in action.
San Juan County instituted a 32-hour workweek in October and released a report with findings from the first six months on April 30. The county said it saved nearly $1 million in requested cost-of-living adjustments and benefits over the course of a 40-hour workweek in 2024.
In addition, San Juan County said it is filling positions 62% faster and separations dropped 46% according to internal human resources data. 78% of staff hired after the 32-hour workweek was instituted said the schedule was a "main factor" in their decision to apply.
An all-employee survey revealed that 83% of respondents "somewhat" or "strongly agreed" that the schedule has improved their work-life balance. Employees also showed up to work more often, with the county saying 31% less sick time was used even during respiratory illness season. 77% also said they used less vacation time to run errands or make non-medical appointments.
Despite full-time employees cutting their hours by 20%, San Juan County said overall hours only dropped by an average of 8%. The report credits this to many part-time and seasonal employees who made "valuable" contributions and did not see their hours adjusted. Fewer vacancies also limited the amount of hours lost during this period.
“We’re encouraged by the initial results of the 32-hour work week check-in,” said the county’s Interim County Manager Mark Tompkins. “However, we know that more data and more time with the schedule will be vital to understanding its true impacts on the organization. Six months is really just a drop in the bucket, and I look forward to seeing what the one-year and two-year check-ins will reveal.”
A final report after the two-year run of the program will determine its future. When the schedule was put in place, San Juan County was reporting a 10-15% vacancy rate in most departments and 15% of its workforce was expected to hit retirement age or become eligible within three years.
