Business and charity leaders urge ministers to lead England's transition to four-day week

"As business leaders, trade union leaders and advocates who have witnessed the successful transition to a four-day working week (with no loss of pay) in many contexts, we can say with confidence that it is not just an idea for the future it is already delivering results today, the letter states. From different sectors and company sizes, we have all witnessed the same outcome: shorter working weeks are not only viable, but transformative."

"The leader of South Cambridgeshire council, Bridget Smith, also hit back at Reed's comments, saying she was extremely disappointed by his letter, and that independently assessed data showed the vast majority of council services had either improved or remained the same during the four-day week trial. She disputed Reed's claim that staff performance had declined and said her colleagues had done 100% of their work in 32 hours each week since the four-day week was introduced."

More than 100 business and charity leaders called on ministers to lead the country's transition to a shorter working week and urged establishment of a working time council. The campaign was coordinated by the 4 Day Week Foundation and included business leaders, trade union leaders and advocates from multiple sectors and company sizes. The local government secretary, Steve Reed, criticised South Cambridgeshire council's four-day trial, citing an independent report showing declines in housing-related services. South Cambridgeshire council leader Bridget Smith said independently assessed data showed most services improved or remained the same and that staff completed full workloads in 32 hours. More than 200,000 UK workers have switched since 2019.

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