According to recent reports, Sir Kier Starmer's new Labour government is exploring plans to bolster full-time workers' rights to request a four-day working week. The move is part of a broader initiative to increase flexible working options across the UK. Under the proposed changes, employees would still be required to work their full contracted hours but could potentially compress these into fewer days.
Five years ago Labour's then Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell promised a 32 hour working week, with polls at the time showing a 50 percent vote in favour of his plans.
This week Education Minister Baroness Jacqui Smith argued that flexible working is good for productivity, clarifying that the four-day week could allow someone to work 10 hours a day for four days instead of working eight hours a day for five days, maintaining the same total working hours.
Since April 2024, UK employees have had the right to request flexible working arrangements from the first day of their employment, but employers are not obligated to agree to these requests. The government's new plans could potentially make it more challenging for employers to refuse such requests, particularly for four-day week arrangements. Any new law, while not clear at the moment, would set in stone this requirement from employers.
Proponents of the four-day working week say that it can lead to improved work-life balance, increased productivity, and better mental health for employees. A recent trial involving 61 UK companies found that 54 of them were still operating a four-day week policy a year later, suggesting positive outcomes for both employees and employers.
However, the transition to a four-day week is not without challenges. Some companies, such as Morrisons and Asda, have encountered difficulties in implementing this working pattern. Morrisons scrapped its four-day week trial for head office staff after receiving negative feedback, particularly regarding the need to work some Saturdays. Similarly, Asda shelved its trial due to complaints about the demanding nature of longer shifts.
One significant aspect of the four-day working week debate is its potential impact on women in the workforce, where some argue that a four-day week could be particularly beneficial. Women who often bear a disproportionate burden of unpaid care work and household responsibilities would gain the ability to have an extra day off, and use this arrangement to help address work-life balance issues and potentially reduce gender inequalities in the workplace.
While many employees welcome the prospect of a four-day week, some businesses express concerns about its implementation. In the Commons political opponents are claiming that the approach could damage business and lead to reduced productivity.
The UK government has stated that any changes to employment legislation will be subject to consultation, working in partnership with businesses. Details of potential changes are expected to be revealed in the autumn when a new package of workers' rights is set to begin its journey through Parliament.