Victory for four-day week campaign as councils told they're free to bring it in

Campaigners calling for a four-day working week have voiced their delight after councils were told they're free to offer them to staff.

South Cambridgeshire District Council, which rolled out the controversial working arrangement, has been told ministers want to end "micromanaging". The local authority had been at loggerheads with the Tory Government after trialling four-day weeks for hundreds of staff since last year. It says it's had a positive impact on productivity, recruitment and morale.

The Ministry of Housing,Communities & Local Government said it's up to voters to decide whether it works. The arrangement sees staff at the Lib Dem-controlled council carry out 100% of their work in around 80% of their contracted hours, receiving full pay.

Joe Ryle, Director of the 4 Day Week Campaign, said: “The results of the first UK council trial showed that a four-day week with no loss in pay is a win-win-win: workers are happier, the council has found permanent candidates for hard-to-fill roles, and in doing so they’ve saved taxpayers almost £400,000."

He went on: “With 50% more free time, a four-day week gives people the freedom to live happier, more fulfilling lives. The 9-5, 5 day working week was invented 100 years ago and is no longer fit for purpose. We are long overdue an update.”

It comes as a new deal was struck between trade union Aslef - which has also called for a four-day working week - and Transport fo London. Mr Ryle said: “The deal struck today between Aslef and Transport for London is a big win for Tube drivers and passengers alike. Happy, healthy, experienced drivers are exactly what we need on the Tube."

The Tory Government issued a Best Value notice demanding changes in November 2023 amid concerns over the four-day week rollout. But this will be lifted, it has been confirmed.

A letter sent by the Government to South Cambridgeshire Council states: "Although it is not government policy to support a general move to a four-day working week for five days’ worth of pay, we recognise that local authorities are independent employers who are rightly responsible for the management and organisation of their own workforces.

"We encourage active and ongoing dialogue with the workforce and trade unions on any changes to local working arrangements. In turn, local voters are best placed to make decisions about the effectiveness of local authority services in their own areas."

The council said it has found it easier to recruit and retain staff since it launched a trial in January last year. It also said there is evidence workers get more done despite working fewer hours.

Council leader Bridget Smith, said: “The results from our four-day week trial painted a really positive picture, with many of our services improving. This was along with the hundreds of thousands of pounds of taxpayer money we saved, improved recruitment and retention plus incredibly significant positives around health and wellbeing."

There are calls for civil servants to be allowed four-day weeks, but the Government said in October that it is not considering this.