The government has dropped its official opposition to a local council’s proposal for a four-day work week, which could potentially set a precedent for other councils to follow suit. This move comes after the Conservative government initially objected to the plan by South Cambridgeshire District Council when it was introduced in 2023.
Local government secretary Angela Rayner criticized the previous administration for interfering with the autonomy of local authorities over this policy. While the four-day work week continued past its trial period until March of this year, the council had been awaiting feedback from ministers.
Although the government has not made a decision to officially support a four-day work week as a national policy, they are no longer opposing it. A letter from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government acknowledged that councils have the right to manage their own workforces and make decisions about their working arrangements.
Conservative ministers had previously issued Best Value Notices to the Cambridgeshire authority expressing concerns about the impact of the four-day work week on service delivery. However, the government has now indicated that they will not reissue these notices and are leaving the decision-making to local authorities.
The leader of the council, Councillor Bridget Smith, highlighted the positive outcomes of the trial period, including improved services, cost savings, and better health and wellbeing for staff. The council reported that employees were able to complete 100% of their work in 80% of their contracted hours without reducing service hours.
While the Labour party has not fully endorsed the policy, Angela Rayner mentioned in the Commons that a four-day work week does not pose a threat to the economy. Additionally, London’s transport authority is reportedly exploring the idea of shifting Tube drivers to a four-day work week without reducing their hours.
The government emphasized its commitment to enhancing workers’ rights through the Employment Rights Bill, which aims to make flexible working the default option. However, they clarified that a four-day work week for full pay is not currently under consideration as a government policy.
Transport for London (TfL) is engaging in discussions with the Aslef union regarding the potential transition to a four-day work week for Tube drivers. TfL has assured that there will be no reduction in contractual hours and any changes must be mutually beneficial to maintain service reliability and efficiency.
Overall, the shift towards a four-day work week at the local council level reflects a growing trend towards flexible working arrangements and prioritizing the well-being of employees. As discussions continue and more organizations explore this option, it will be interesting to see how this impacts the future of work in the UK.
