The future of the four-day working week in England faces a critical juncture as a government minister raises serious concerns about its implementation, sparking a fierce backlash from over 100 business and charity leaders.
Ministerial Intervention and Performance Concerns
Steve Reed, a Labour Party cabinet member, has directly intervened in the UK's most prominent public sector trial. In a letter leaked to the Telegraph, he wrote to South Cambridgeshire district council—the first English council to trial a four-day week—expressing worries about performance and value for money.
Mr. Reed stated that an independent report indicated performance had declined in key housing-related services. The specific areas of concern highlighted were rent collection, reletting times, and tenant satisfaction with repairs.
Widespread Business Backing for the Shorter Week
In a significant counter-move, more than 100 leaders from various sectors have signed an open letter to the business secretary. Coordinated by the 4 Day Week Foundation, the letter urges the government to establish a working time council to guide the transition towards a shorter working week.
The collective of business and trade union leaders stated confidently, "shorter working weeks are not only viable, but transformative." They argued that the model is already delivering results across different sectors and company sizes, proving it is an idea for the present, not just the future.
Council and Campaigners Hit Back
The leader of South Cambridgeshire council, Bridget Smith, responded forcefully, saying she was "extremely disappointed" by Mr. Reed's letter. She defended the trial, revealing that the council's own financial analysis shows the four-day week is saving a net £399,000 per annum, largely by eliminating reliance on expensive agency staff.
Adding to the criticism, Joe Ryle, campaign director at the 4 Day Week Foundation, called the minister's comments "frankly ridiculous" and accused the government of appearing "outdated and stuck in the past." He argued that the council is overall outperforming others and that criticising three specific areas was "cherrypicking." Mr. Ryle also pointed out a perceived double standard, noting that while the private sector has widely embraced the four-day week, it becomes contested as soon as it enters the public sector.
