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Steve Reed, the Local Government Secretary, has issued a firm warning to council leaders across England against the implementation of four-day working weeks. According to a letter reported by the Telegraph, Reed emphasized that council employees working part-time hours while receiving full-time salaries, without a strong justification, could signal potential failings within the council. He stressed his intention to make the government’s position unmistakably clear to all local authorities.
A Labour insider commented on the matter, stating, “Voters deserve high standards and hard work from local councils, and seeing council staff working a four-day week just won’t cut it.” They went on to assert that councils must prioritize delivering excellent services consistently throughout the entire working week, adding, “They should get on with the job and make sure residents get the best service possible five days a week.”
Reed’s letter, as detailed in the Telegraph, explicitly discouraged councils from providing full-time pay for part-time work. The Secretary of State had previously voiced his “deep disappointment” regarding South Cambridgeshire District Council’s decision to permanently adopt a four-day workweek. The council, led by the Liberal Democrats, was the first UK council to make such a change after trialling the shorter week earlier in 2023. Following this shift, Reed noted a drop in the housing service’s performance and questioned how the council planned to address this issue. He also reminded councils that the government retains the right to intervene in any failing authority.
Last year, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer also opposed calls from civil servants for a four-day working week. While some critics argue that reducing working days might harm productivity and hinder economic growth, others point to contrasting evidence. Notably, a recent trial of a four-day week within the Scottish public sector reported improved productivity and enhanced employee well-being. The Autonomy Institute, tasked by the Scottish government with overseeing the pilot, revealed that 98% of participants observed better morale and motivation during the trial period
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