In September of 2005 some offices under the direction of the Walton County Board of County Commissioners changed their schedules to the alternate work schedule.

Employees work a variation of four ten-hour days. Since the alternate work week started the county and employees say they have saved money.

Susan is available to answer the phone on Monday, but come Friday she'll be enjoying her weekend. She's just one of the many county employees who have a four day work week.

The alternate work schedule began in 2005 after administration in the Walton County offices noticed a high turn over rate.

"We were looking at a way to try to help the county and the personnel in trying to reduce the cost, and back in 2004 2005 we were having a problem retaining employees."

Since then the county offices have gotten a lot of feedback.

"County employees say they're very satisfied with the alternative work week and they say it saves them a lot of money on gas."

Shayne Campbell works for the county's construction management team and drives 60 miles round trip to get to work. He says the shorten week gives him more time to spend with his family, plus it saves him about $160 a month on gas.

"It helps us all out a little bit gives us time to do other things other than work all the time."

Bell says he's also seen the savings first hand and thinks a shortened work week is a wise decision for any county to consider.

"It does save us some money the county and each of us personally, but in the end result I think you will find that that extra time that they spend with their family is the big reason.”

Although the employees work a four-day work week, county offices are open five days a week, which allows them to serve the public 50 hours a week instead of the normal 40 hours.