(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
KENOSHA COUNTY, Wis. — A little-known first-term Kenosha County Board supervisor is causing a stir with a controversial draft resolution that would lay the groundwork for a county government shift to a four-day, 32-hour work week — with no reduction in pay.
(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
Supervisor Andres Gama, a Democrat serving his first term, is expected to formally introduce the proposal soon. He narrowly defeated local business owner Duane O’Keefe 788 to 769 in the April 2, 2024 election and was sworn in soon after. Gama is up for re-election in April 2026.
The draft resolution, obtained by Kenosha County Eye, would direct county officials to begin a feasibility study in May 2026 to explore cutting employee schedules to 32 hours a week, while still paying them as if they worked 40. That equates to a 25% increase in pay for the same work.
While the document emphasizes that it’s only a study — not an immediate change — residents and officials are already sounding the alarm.
(File Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
“I do not support this draft resolution for a number of reasons,” said County Executive Samantha Kerkman. “While I am open to exploring alternative schedules for employees in areas where it’s deemed appropriate and feasible, I do not believe a 32-hour work week is the answer.”
“Moreover, I don’t think the general public would be behind this,” Kerkman added. “In county government, it’s our job to serve the public, and making our employees less accessible to the people we serve would not support that mission.”
The resolution outlines a detailed checklist of tasks for county staff to evaluate service disruptions, employee satisfaction, union contract issues, legal compliance, and fiscal impact. It notes that wages and benefits would remain the same throughout the proposed year-long pilot program.
But early community feedback has been overwhelmingly critical.
“So what he’s saying is that there isn’t enough work to keep everyone busy for 40 hours a week?” one resident asked. “Why not only hire the number of employees that are needed and free up the budget for use elsewhere?”
Another wrote: “Everyone being able to work less translates to: too many employees.”
Concerns were also raised about how the public would be affected.
“If it’s an office job in the courthouse or admin building, there would be fewer days the public could take care of business,” one commenter said. “And if it’s a 24/7 job like the Sheriff’s Department or Brookside, you’d have to hire more employees, which means more benefit costs. Makes total sense,” the comment added sarcastically.
“Wow, work 32 hours, get paid for 40… That’d be nice,” another said. “Basically a 25% pay raise and an extra day off.”
Although the resolution hasn’t yet been introduced, it was shared with the County Attorney’s Office for legal review. Upon request from Kenosha County Eye, Supervisor Gama immediately gave permission for the draft to be released — a gesture KCE appreciates.
“This is an unreviewed and unvetted draft which has not been introduced and it could be subject to changes before any such introduction may occur,” County Attorney Joseph Cardamone noted in a statement.
Gama, a political newcomer with no prior elected experience, has not publicly commented on the resolution or the growing backlash. He did not return Kenosha County Eye’s call for comment.
The Kenosha County Board is currently controlled by a Democratic majority, which could determine the fate of the proposal if it reaches the floor for a vote.
For now, many are asking why this issue — and the potential cost — is even being considered.
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56 Responses
…. it’ll be just one more nail in Sam’s coffin
Sam !!
You better stop this before it even happens !!
If you can’t stop this, then what power do you really have ??
Another stupid democrat and the people who voted for this!!! Why work at all just collect the money?
How about we get paid for the hours we work? Why would they be any different? It sounds like a creative raise to me?
That’s a good question. I think the places that have gone to the 32 hour workweek basically say that with productivity increases 40 hours of work is getting done in 32 hours. I think it needs more study.
There is nothing creative about this whatsoever!
There is nothing creative about this whatsoever!
It may not be creative as there are companies and a few government entities doing it already.
As a taxpayer I demand they work all the hours they are paid for. Lazy as*holes
WTF?????????
That was my first reaction when I read this. The notion sounds crazy but, to be fair, a lot of good ideas started out as notions people thought crazy when first proposed.
So, I did a little research and, well, the 32-hour workweek is an idea that has some validity. There are studies showing higher productivity and the ability to recruit and keep good employees by offering a better work-life balance.
But it’s not for every organization. I wonder how an entity that has to be open five days a week to serve the public can make it work, especially when some of the offices (such as county clerk) have only a few employees. One of the stated benefits are things such as lower utility costs but that isn’t going to happen in an entity that has to be open five days a week.
So, I’m going to stick with the “WTF” but, hey, let’s be opening to studying the idea. Have any other local governments done this? Yes, but not many. One county in Washington has been doing it for under two years and reports some savings (such as a 20% reduction in sick leave use). Maybe it isn’t a bad idea but I’d say not ready for prime time.
A 4 day (32-40 hr) workweek should be normalized.
I work 3 12hr shifts and 4 12 hr shifts alternating weeks. Couldn’t imagine only getting Saturdays and Sundays to yourself.
You must be younger than 40, typical entitled and selfish generation.
selfish how, waste away your life slaving away for what? Your generation could support a family on one salary. Fucking homemakers and house full of groceries. Go fuck your comparison you old Geezer.
Your generation is spoiled. Always has it handed to you easy. You boomers wouldn’t make it in today’s world
This is a hugely true statement
tell us more about how you made enough on 1 salary to have a homemaker and house full of groceries and extra cash & opportunities
Went to college and earned an engineering degree.
Not like your GED
when College was affordable, went to UW Madison, got the debt to prove it clown. Middle class is disappearing
Don’t go to college and get a underwater basket weaving degree idiot
Underwater basket weaving? I’m an EnGiNeEr
god an engineer! those are some of the stupidest people I have met by far.
We are not talking about a garbage man or a train operator
Engineers are nothing special buddy, don’t hurt your arm patting yourself on the back.
Can you make a blueprint ??
Probably can’t even read a tape measure
I believe the 32 hour paycheck has equal validity. And of course, I would expect a 1/5 reduction in pension amounts and vacation time.
Kenosha county is already famous for being loaded with slackers who get nothing done . Let’s reward them!
Or they don’t have to pretend to be busy on Fridays. Most office workers work 10-20hrs per week in 40hrs.
Not true!!!
Work only :
32 weeks a year
32 hours a week
32 minutes per hour
32 vacation days
32 sick days
32 bucks an hour
Retire at 32
What a bunch of hooey!!!!
Nut job radical liberal
💯
Lots of companies are offering 4 ten hour days.
Monday thru Thursday. Tuesday thru Friday.
Wednesday thru Saturday.
Lots of possibilities for people to take their preferred days off.
Lots of companies can do whatever the hell they want because they are companies, not governments. If people in government want to work a 32 hour week, they should find a company that offers that.
Government *is* a business — a very big one. We expect governments to be run like a business as much as possible. Sheesh.
My Dentist office is closed Fri-Sunday and 1 day partial…. I don’t see them closing any time soon….
What is that supposed to mean? Do the tax payers pay for your dentist office?
The challenge in making it work is how to provide services on a five day basis if people are only working four days. I suppose most people in that setting would take either Monday or Friday off which means it would have to be staggered among employees. What does an office do when someone goes on vacation or calls in sick on a Monday or Friday? It would take some effort to make the scheduling work — a lot more than in a small dental office.
Wait untill the first snowstorm.
Highway Dept is on call 24/7 for winter weather, regardless of work hours. We only get a few exemptions each season, and only a couple of people can be exempt at the same time.
Besides, this likely wouldn’t apply to hourly workers, and it’s really doubtful that it would apply to our downstairs management.
I completely understand what you are saying, and the comparison is a little off. Basically, no one “works” 40 hrs in government. Maintaining a staggered 32hr work schedule, would require seniority nightmares as well as an effective pay cut, or freeze. Both are a HUGE ASK. No one is going to volunteer to get paid less, and be required to work every Friday/Monday…….
Left is always looking for handouts
Yup!
Societies that choose leisure over labor will always fall short. This great country—was built through blood, sweat, and relentless sacrifice. Anyone naïve enough to believe you can magically produce more by doing less clearly skipped the chapter on the Law of Gains. Input equal’s output. Period. You can’t whisper into the void and expect it to scream back prosperity.
Another one work less get paid more , how ridiculous. Sounds to me like he wants off Fridays for a long weekend all the time .
“Work expands to fill the time available”. What this means is the people working 40 hours a week are being overpaid. Keep the benefits and hourly rate the same, but reduce the hours to 32. Employees are free to stay or quit.
Does this low-intellect moron have public school system employment history?
This is like the over-bearing teachers constantly whining about their pay when they are paid 12 months salary yet only “work” 8+ months. The LAST thing this county needs is more free-loading public employees.
It’s not like they do anything anyway. What’s the difference how long they’re there?
It’s like the people that “work from home”. It’s all bullshit.
I question his motives for proposing such an absurd work week. Does he have an agenda? Is he trying to garner county employees support for a run for higher office? This guy is a bonehead! If he wants to save dollars for the taxpayer he can propose county employee workforce reductions. He won’t do that because it takes integrity and courage to do the right thing! Absurd!
If he wanted to garner support of county employees, he would push to get rid of Tappa. She’s a cancer. Everything has gotten worse since she started. Bob Ruidl did better than she did, he did it with a third of the staff she has, and the turnover was LOW. People would fill the auditorium at Parkside to take a test to go on a list to maybe, possibly be called for an interview, should a single position open. Now, positions open and they can often take 3-4 interview cycles to fill before someone accepts an offer.
As an attorney who represents clients in court 15-20 times per week, the volume of cases requires Courts and staff to be in n session 40 hours per week.32 hours is unrealistic and will deny clients in criminal and civil cases timely justice .
Ummmmmm. The judges sure as heck aren’t working 40 hours per week. Not even close. Iverson is probably averaging 15 hours of actual court time – such a joke. The rest is on her treadmill in her office or gossiping with Patty and Angee
Former Supervisor Rose makes a good point about the needs of the court system however — and correct me if I am wrong — the proposal isn’t for the courthouse to only be open 32 hours per week but for employees to have a 32 hour work week. In all likelihood places that have done this have encountered similar issues and have had to resolve them. Any study of the proposal necessarily must look at that issue.
It’s tone deaf in a blue collar town.
People say that working 32 hours will result in more production because those who work a 40 hour week only work hard for 32 of those.
However, these clowns proposing 32 hours are doing this so they only have to really work 24 now….
I thought the proposal was weird until I started doing some research before shooting my mouth off. In one study of 64 businesses that adopted this as an experiment, three years later 57 retained it. There must be some benefit in this but it needs further study.
How many people are still having the “work from home” benefit?
At least for a portion of their week?
HR? Payroll? Finance? Engineers? IT?
Let’s think about getting everyone back into their offices, first. Many who would be on the receiving end of this benefit are already “working from home” for 8-16 hours/week.