The couple, who live with their two children on San Juan Island in Washington state, both work for San Juan County, made up of a small network of islands north of Seattle. Their union had been negotiating raises for its employees, but the county was strapped for cash and couldn’t afford to boost salaries beyond a small cost of living increase.
Instead, they agreed upon a 32-hour workweek, in which employees retain their full-time positions with benefits but can enjoy reduced hours and schedule flexibility.