A Will County Auditor’s Office pilot plan giving employees a workweek of four 10-hour days could become a model for other counties, officials said.

The program, instituted June 16, might become a standard for the county if it reduces costs and maintains the same level of productivity, said Wayne McMillan, County Board member from District Four and a member of the County Board Executive Committee.

“We expect a report from (County Auditor) Steve Weber, and all indications are that it is successful. Still, we would like to get another week or two under our belts so there is a larger body of information to work with and evaluate,” McMillan said.

If Weber’s report — expected to be presented at the Thursday, July 10, Executive Committee meeting — is favorable, the workweek could earn an endorsement from the board and be used in other county offices.

“It is being used pretty extensively in the private sector right now and appears to have a lot of benefits,” McMillan said. “If it looks like it can provide benefits here, why wouldn’t we try it out all over?”

Weber said productivity had shown no signs of decreasing, and “in some cases, projects are getting completed sooner.”

“After the first week, people said they were a litle bit tired because they have to get up earlier in the day, but they also liked the extra day off,” Weber said. “Now they seem to be more energized.”

Weber also cited the four-day workweek’s benefits to the economy and environment, noting that employees reduce their commuting costs by 20 percent and, with less time on the road, their cars create fewer emissions.

“It just makes a lot of sense,” he added. “If it works in our office, there is no reason it cannot work in other offices.”

The voluntary program adds two hours to the standard eight-hour workday by allowing employees to begin an hour earlier and leave an hour later.

Employees choose which day of the week they take off.

“It works because we stagger the days being taken off, so the county’s business still is being conducted efficiently all five days of the week,” Weber said. “The office remains open five days a week.”

Six of the eight members of Weber’s staff are trying the new system.

“It is their decision, and right now, it seems to be working pretty well,” he added.