This Tuesday, The San Juan County Council adopted a 32-hour work week for employees represented by AFSCME 1849, a bargaining unit that employs the majority of the island town’s workforce.
The county said the measure will help maintain fiscal health, improve employee recruitment and retention and prioritize the well-being of islanders.
This will go into effect on October, and employees will then receive 100% of their pay for 80% of the traditional hours.
County Manager Mike Thomas made a statement: “The workplace of today is not the same workplace that existed even two years ago – retention, work-life balance, compensation, and remote work, are all issues the County and likely most employers must find a way to deal with in order to maintain a workforce.”
County offices will remain open to the public and hold regular hours of operation. Some departments may adjust their hours or close one day a week, but their hours of operation will be properly noticed.
The county said it has been operating with a job vacancy rate around 10-15%, “making it difficult to meet deadlines, avoid employee burnout, and retain institutional knowledge.
