San Juan County has decided to stick with a 32-hour workweek for most of its government employees after two years of trying out the approach.
The county, which encompasses the San Juan Islands, moved about 160 employees to reduced hours in 2023 without lowering their overall pay.
It did so rather than giving the employees major raises in their next union contract. The employees were pushing for big wage increases, citing inflation, but the cash-strapped county couldn't afford to pay much more.
The 32-hour approach has saved an estimated $2 million compared to what the raises could have cost the county, while also improving recruitment and retention in one of Washington’s most remote communities, officials say.
Job applications have increased more than 200% and employees are quitting or retiring 28% less, according to a December 2025 report on the experiment.
There have been challenges for some departments in coordinating schedules between employees and 18,000 residents. But the employees are still getting their work done, partly because they’re using less sick time, officials say.
Meanwhile, the employees have said they're using their additional personal time to care for their family members, pursue hobbies, earn extra income at second jobs, run off-island errands and volunteer in the community.
The county is allowing nonunion managers to work 32 hours per week, too. Sheriff’s office employees are still working 40-hour weeks, though.
The union contract that introduced the 32-hour workweek expired at the end of 2025. A new three-year contract approved last month will carry it forward.
“We’ll continue working to leverage the benefits of this schedule and continue serving the public effectively and responsibly within our fiscal means,” County Manager Jessica Hudson said in a statement.
San Juan County was one of the first local governments in the U.S. to move to 32 hours, although a number of other countries have used the approach. The Quinault Indian Nation moved to a 32-hour workweek last year.
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