Full-time workers in the UK could soon be given the right to ask their employers to work a four-day week. The proposal, a government plan to increase flexible working, would still require employees to work their full hours to receive full pay.
During a recent interview to LBC radio, education minister Jacqui Smith said workers could be given the option to work fewer days through “compressed hours”.
“We think that flexible working is actually good for productivity. So the four-day week that I know is on the front of quite a lot of newspapers today, what we are actually talking about there is the type of flexible working that enables you to use compressed hours.”
The government have, however, dismissed reports of businesses being forced to accept staff’s demands to reduce their week days. According to the BBC, a Department for Business and Trade spokesperson also denied Labour would impose the working pattern on businesses.
People took to social media to welcome the government plans on the four-day work week.
“I’m very pleased to see the proposal to normalise four day working in the UK. Working a four day week, in effect compressed hours, for the last nine years has given me precious time with my family as they were growing up. It’s also helped me to share in and benefit from hands on childcare in a more equal way with my wife who also works flexibly,” shared Trevor Greetham, head of multi asset at Royal London Asset Management.
For X (formerly Twitter) user Zena Leigh, a four-day working week may also benefit wellbeing in other ways.
“I don‘t think policy makers realise the potential of this move to benefit family mental health, provided it doesn’t plunge them into poverty. Families should have one parent able to afford and be enabled to work a four day week. Reduce costs of mental health epidemic in children,” says Leigh.
When the four-day working will be discussed?
A Whitehall spokesperson said: “We have no plans to impose a four-day working week on employers or employees. Any changes to employment legislation will be consulted on, working in partnership with business.
The Department for Business and Trade said it would set out further details of its approach within 100 days.
“Compressing the same amount of hours into four days rather than five can be an important first step on the road to a true four-day week – but reducing overall working hours is crucial,” says Joe Ryle, the director of the 4 Day Week campaign, welcoming the proposal.
In 2022, over 60 UK businesses took place in a six-month trial to test a four-day working week. At least 54 of the participant companies had maintained the four-day week one year later. A follow-up report revealed that over the six-month trial period, stress and burnout for employees decreased, with 71% of staff reporting lower levels of burnout.
