diff --git a/lib/temporal/client.rb b/lib/temporal/client.rb
index 912a63d0..c9dea1ce 100644
--- a/lib/temporal/client.rb
+++ b/lib/temporal/client.rb
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ def start_workflow(workflow, *input, options: {}, **args)
           # If unspecified, individual runs should have the full time for the execution (which includes retries).
           run_timeout: compute_run_timeout(execution_options),
           task_timeout: execution_options.timeouts[:task],
-          workflow_id_reuse_policy: options[:workflow_id_reuse_policy],
+          workflow_id_reuse_policy: options[:workflow_id_reuse_policy] || execution_options.workflow_id_reuse_policy,
           headers: execution_options.headers,
           memo: execution_options.memo,
           search_attributes: Workflow::Context::Helpers.process_search_attributes(execution_options.search_attributes),
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ def start_workflow(workflow, *input, options: {}, **args)
           execution_timeout: execution_options.timeouts[:execution],
           run_timeout: compute_run_timeout(execution_options),
           task_timeout: execution_options.timeouts[:task],
-          workflow_id_reuse_policy: options[:workflow_id_reuse_policy],
+          workflow_id_reuse_policy: options[:workflow_id_reuse_policy] || execution_options.workflow_id_reuse_policy,
           headers: execution_options.headers,
           memo: execution_options.memo,
           search_attributes: Workflow::Context::Helpers.process_search_attributes(execution_options.search_attributes),
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ def schedule_workflow(workflow, cron_schedule, *input, options: {}, **args)
         # than the execution timeout.
         run_timeout: compute_run_timeout(execution_options),
         task_timeout: execution_options.timeouts[:task],
-        workflow_id_reuse_policy: options[:workflow_id_reuse_policy],
+        workflow_id_reuse_policy: options[:workflow_id_reuse_policy] || execution_options.workflow_id_reuse_policy,
         headers: execution_options.headers,
         cron_schedule: cron_schedule,
         memo: execution_options.memo,
diff --git a/lib/temporal/concerns/executable.rb b/lib/temporal/concerns/executable.rb
index 17e15362..5de03981 100644
--- a/lib/temporal/concerns/executable.rb
+++ b/lib/temporal/concerns/executable.rb
@@ -29,6 +29,11 @@ def headers(*args)
         return @headers if args.empty?
         @headers = args.first
       end
+
+      def workflow_id_reuse_policy(*args)
+        return @workflow_id_reuse_policy if args.empty?
+        @workflow_id_reuse_policy = args.first
+      end
     end
   end
 end
diff --git a/lib/temporal/configuration.rb b/lib/temporal/configuration.rb
index b397d03c..3d9b993e 100644
--- a/lib/temporal/configuration.rb
+++ b/lib/temporal/configuration.rb
@@ -9,10 +9,10 @@
 module Temporal
   class Configuration
     Connection = Struct.new(:type, :host, :port, :credentials, :identity, keyword_init: true)
-    Execution = Struct.new(:namespace, :task_queue, :timeouts, :headers, :search_attributes, keyword_init: true)
+    Execution = Struct.new(:namespace, :task_queue, :timeouts, :headers, :search_attributes, :workflow_id_reuse_policy, keyword_init: true)
 
     attr_reader :timeouts, :error_handlers
-    attr_accessor :connection_type, :converter, :host, :port, :credentials, :identity, :logger, :metrics_adapter, :namespace, :task_queue, :headers, :search_attributes
+    attr_accessor :connection_type, :converter, :host, :port, :credentials, :identity, :logger, :metrics_adapter, :namespace, :task_queue, :headers, :search_attributes, :workflow_id_reuse_policy
 
     # See https://docs.temporal.io/blog/activity-timeouts/ for general docs.
     # We want an infinite execution timeout for cron schedules and other perpetual workflows.
@@ -43,6 +43,9 @@ class Configuration
         Temporal::Connection::Converter::Payload::JSON.new
       ]
     ).freeze
+    # default workflow id reuse policy is nil for backwards compatibility. in reality, the
+    # default is :allow, due to that being the temporal server's default
+    DEFAULT_WORKFLOW_ID_REUSE_POLICY = nil
 
     def initialize
       @connection_type = :grpc
@@ -57,6 +60,7 @@ def initialize
       @credentials = :this_channel_is_insecure
       @identity = nil
       @search_attributes = {}
+      @workflow_id_reuse_policy = DEFAULT_WORKFLOW_ID_REUSE_POLICY
     end
 
     def on_error(&block)
@@ -91,7 +95,8 @@ def default_execution_options
         task_queue: task_list,
         timeouts: timeouts,
         headers: headers,
-        search_attributes: search_attributes
+        search_attributes: search_attributes,
+        workflow_id_reuse_policy: workflow_id_reuse_policy
       ).freeze
     end
 
diff --git a/lib/temporal/connection/serializer/workflow_id_reuse_policy.rb b/lib/temporal/connection/serializer/workflow_id_reuse_policy.rb
index b3040197..8d1a6233 100644
--- a/lib/temporal/connection/serializer/workflow_id_reuse_policy.rb
+++ b/lib/temporal/connection/serializer/workflow_id_reuse_policy.rb
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ module Temporal
   module Connection
     module Serializer
       class WorkflowIdReusePolicy < Base
-
         WORKFLOW_ID_REUSE_POLICY = {
           allow_failed: Temporal::Api::Enums::V1::WorkflowIdReusePolicy::WORKFLOW_ID_REUSE_POLICY_ALLOW_DUPLICATE_FAILED_ONLY,
           allow: Temporal::Api::Enums::V1::WorkflowIdReusePolicy::WORKFLOW_ID_REUSE_POLICY_ALLOW_DUPLICATE,
@@ -14,7 +13,7 @@ class WorkflowIdReusePolicy < Base
         def to_proto
           return unless object
 
-          policy = WORKFLOW_ID_REUSE_POLICY[object]
+          policy = WORKFLOW_ID_REUSE_POLICY[object.to_sym]
           raise ArgumentError, "Unknown workflow_id_reuse_policy specified: #{object}" unless policy
 
           policy
diff --git a/lib/temporal/execution_options.rb b/lib/temporal/execution_options.rb
index 681cac83..13935586 100644
--- a/lib/temporal/execution_options.rb
+++ b/lib/temporal/execution_options.rb
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 
 module Temporal
   class ExecutionOptions
-    attr_reader :name, :namespace, :task_queue, :retry_policy, :timeouts, :headers, :memo, :search_attributes
+    attr_reader :name, :namespace, :task_queue, :retry_policy, :timeouts, :headers, :memo, :search_attributes, :workflow_id_reuse_policy
 
     def initialize(object, options, defaults = nil)
       # Options are treated as overrides and take precedence
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ def initialize(object, options, defaults = nil)
       @headers = options[:headers] || {}
       @memo = options[:memo] || {}
       @search_attributes = options[:search_attributes] || {}
+      @workflow_id_reuse_policy = options[:workflow_id_reuse_policy]
 
       # For Temporal::Workflow and Temporal::Activity use defined values as the next option
       if has_executable_concern?(object)
@@ -23,6 +24,7 @@ def initialize(object, options, defaults = nil)
         @retry_policy = object.retry_policy.merge(@retry_policy) if object.retry_policy
         @timeouts = object.timeouts.merge(@timeouts) if object.timeouts
         @headers = object.headers.merge(@headers) if object.headers
+        @workflow_id_reuse_policy ||= object.workflow_id_reuse_policy
       end
 
       # Lastly consider defaults if they are given
@@ -32,6 +34,7 @@ def initialize(object, options, defaults = nil)
         @timeouts = defaults.timeouts.merge(@timeouts)
         @headers = defaults.headers.merge(@headers)
         @search_attributes = defaults.search_attributes.merge(@search_attributes)
+        @workflow_id_reuse_policy ||= defaults.workflow_id_reuse_policy
       end
 
       if @retry_policy.empty?
diff --git a/lib/temporal/workflow/context.rb b/lib/temporal/workflow/context.rb
index bbd5cb0b..3664f2fb 100644
--- a/lib/temporal/workflow/context.rb
+++ b/lib/temporal/workflow/context.rb
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ def execute_workflow(workflow_class, *input, **args)
           headers: execution_options.headers,
           cron_schedule: cron_schedule,
           memo: execution_options.memo,
-          workflow_id_reuse_policy: workflow_id_reuse_policy,
+          workflow_id_reuse_policy: workflow_id_reuse_policy || execution_options.workflow_id_reuse_policy,
           search_attributes: Helpers.process_search_attributes(execution_options.search_attributes),
         )
 
diff --git a/spec/unit/lib/temporal/execution_options_spec.rb b/spec/unit/lib/temporal/execution_options_spec.rb
index 98fbe380..61d43218 100644
--- a/spec/unit/lib/temporal/execution_options_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/unit/lib/temporal/execution_options_spec.rb
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ class TestExecutionOptionsWorkflow < Temporal::Workflow
         let(:options) do
           { name: 'OtherTestWorkflow', namespace: 'test-namespace', task_queue: 'test-task-queue' }
         end
-  
+
         it 'is initialized with name from options' do
           expect(subject.name).to eq(options[:name])
           expect(subject.namespace).to eq(options[:namespace])
@@ -77,9 +77,10 @@ class TestExecutionOptionsWorkflow < Temporal::Workflow
             timeouts: { schedule_to_close: 42 },
             headers: { 'DefaultHeader' => 'Default' },
             search_attributes: { 'DefaultIntSearchAttribute' => 256 },
+            workflow_id_reuse_policy: :reject
           )
         end
-  
+
         it 'is initialized with a mix of options and defaults' do
           expect(subject.name).to eq(object)
           expect(subject.namespace).to eq(options[:namespace])
@@ -88,6 +89,7 @@ class TestExecutionOptionsWorkflow < Temporal::Workflow
           expect(subject.timeouts).to eq(schedule_to_close: 42, start_to_close: 10)
           expect(subject.headers).to eq('DefaultHeader' => 'Default', 'TestHeader' => 'Test')
           expect(subject.search_attributes).to eq('DefaultIntSearchAttribute' => 256, 'DoubleSearchAttribute' => 3.14)
+          expect(subject.workflow_id_reuse_policy).to eq(:reject)
         end
       end
 
@@ -99,10 +101,11 @@ class TestExecutionOptionsWorkflow < Temporal::Workflow
             task_queue: 'test-task-queue',
             retry_policy: { interval: 1, backoff: 2, max_attempts: 5 },
             timeouts: { start_to_close: 10 },
-            headers: { 'TestHeader' => 'Test' }
+            headers: { 'TestHeader' => 'Test' },
+            workflow_id_reuse_policy: :reject
           }
         end
-  
+
         it 'is initialized with full options' do
           expect(subject.name).to eq(options[:name])
           expect(subject.namespace).to eq(options[:namespace])
@@ -113,12 +116,13 @@ class TestExecutionOptionsWorkflow < Temporal::Workflow
           expect(subject.retry_policy.max_attempts).to eq(options[:retry_policy][:max_attempts])
           expect(subject.timeouts).to eq(options[:timeouts])
           expect(subject.headers).to eq(options[:headers])
+          expect(subject.workflow_id_reuse_policy).to eq(options[:workflow_id_reuse_policy])
         end
       end
-  
+
       context 'when retry policy options are invalid' do
         let(:options) { { retry_policy: { max_attempts: 10 } } }
-  
+
         it 'raises' do
           expect { subject }.to raise_error(
             Temporal::RetryPolicy::InvalidRetryPolicy,
@@ -128,7 +132,6 @@ class TestExecutionOptionsWorkflow < Temporal::Workflow
       end
     end
 
-
     context 'when initialized with an Executable' do
       class TestWorkflow < Temporal::Workflow
         namespace 'namespace'
@@ -136,6 +139,7 @@ class TestWorkflow < Temporal::Workflow
         retry_policy interval: 1, backoff: 2, max_attempts: 5
         timeouts start_to_close: 10
         headers 'HeaderA' => 'TestA', 'HeaderB' => 'TestB'
+        workflow_id_reuse_policy :reject
       end
 
       let(:object) { TestWorkflow }
@@ -151,6 +155,7 @@ class TestWorkflow < Temporal::Workflow
         expect(subject.retry_policy.max_attempts).to eq(5)
         expect(subject.timeouts).to eq(start_to_close: 10)
         expect(subject.headers).to eq('HeaderA' => 'TestA', 'HeaderB' => 'TestB')
+        expect(subject.workflow_id_reuse_policy).to eq(:reject)
       end
 
       context 'when options are present' do
@@ -160,10 +165,11 @@ class TestWorkflow < Temporal::Workflow
             task_queue: 'test-task-queue',
             retry_policy: { interval: 2, max_attempts: 10 },
             timeouts: { schedule_to_close: 20 },
-            headers: { 'TestHeader' => 'Value', 'HeaderB' => 'ValueB' }
+            headers: { 'TestHeader' => 'Value', 'HeaderB' => 'ValueB' },
+            workflow_id_reuse_policy: :allow_failed
           }
         end
-  
+
         it 'is initialized with a mix of options and executable values' do
           expect(subject.name).to eq(options[:name])
           expect(subject.namespace).to eq('namespace')
@@ -178,6 +184,7 @@ class TestWorkflow < Temporal::Workflow
             'HeaderA' => 'TestA',
             'HeaderB' => 'ValueB' # overriden by options
           )
+          expect(subject.workflow_id_reuse_policy).to eq(:allow_failed)
         end
       end
 
@@ -196,9 +203,10 @@ class TestWorkflow < Temporal::Workflow
             timeouts: { schedule_to_close: 42 },
             headers: { 'DefaultHeader' => 'Default', 'HeaderA' => 'DefaultA' },
             search_attributes: {},
+            workflow_id_reuse_policy: :allow_failed
           )
         end
-  
+
         it 'is initialized with a mix of executable values, options and defaults' do
           expect(subject.name).to eq(object.name)
           expect(subject.namespace).to eq(options[:namespace])
@@ -214,12 +222,13 @@ class TestWorkflow < Temporal::Workflow
             'HeaderB' => 'TestB', # not overriden by defaults
             'DefaultHeader' => 'Default'
           )
+          expect(subject.workflow_id_reuse_policy).to eq(:reject)
         end
       end
 
       context 'when retry policy options are invalid' do
         let(:options) { { retry_policy: { interval: 1.5 } } }
-  
+
         it 'raises' do
           expect { subject }.to raise_error(
             Temporal::RetryPolicy::InvalidRetryPolicy,