A 37½-hour week officially became the norm for most Clallam County employees Tuesday when county commissioners amended workers’ classification, hours, and compensation.
The impacts of the policy now will be negotiated with employee unions, said Marjorie Upham, director of the Department of Personnel and Risk Management.
Some workers may be designated to work 35- or 40-hour weeks, according to the policy, as a “business necessity.”
The county adopted the 37½-hour week to avoid laying off employees in the face of shrinking budgets.
Under the policy, each department head and elected official must designate one worker as a chief deputy or administrative assistant who will be considered exempt and work a 40-hour week.
Some department heads have appointed top aides but allowed them to join a union, according to County Administrator Dan Engelbretson, who with Upham drafted the policy.