Not all county employees are formally eligible for the 32-hour workweek; right now it only applies to the roughly 155 positions represented by the union. The impact of the shift will continue to be studied over the course of the current contract. The county will present a two-year report next year.

“Change happens by somebody actually doing the change,” said Merritt. “The only way we’re going to find out if it works is by doing. And so far, I feel happy; I feel seen as an employee and as a human, and I feel like it could be a beautiful step forward for other people if we just trust it and try it.”