County employees have used their extra time off to spend less money on childcare, volunteer in their kids’ schools, and contribute to the community – Steward spends the time as a substitute school bus driver for the short-staffed district, going on volunteer calls for the fire department, or escaping to the mountains.

While San Juan County’s motivation in adopting a shortened workweek was financial, the benefits its employees cite speak to a larger trend, as workplaces around the country increasingly explore flexible schedules to combat burnout and attract and retain talent. A survey of CEOs this spring found nearly one third of large US companies were looking into solutions like four-day or four-and-a-half-day workweeks. Senator Bernie Sanders has argued for a 4-day, 32-hour workweek, writing in April: “It’s time to reduce the stress level in our country and allow Americans to enjoy a better quality of life.”