Four-day week on trial

Independent studies carried out to assess the outcome of South Cambridgeshire District Council’s four-day week trial have reported a reduction in turnover, an increase in performance, and greater employee satisfaction and well-being.

Background

Following challenges related to recruitment and retention, and out of a desire to create a workplace which is both the best it can be and delivers the best possible service to residents, South Cambridgeshire District Council commenced a four-day week trial. 

The council reportedly felt a need to continue developing new ways of working that would protect services to residents and businesses. It also wanted to take the opportunity to benefit from the ‘first mover advantage’ by being the first council to trial progressive working practices.

A four-day week trial for desk-based staff commenced in January 2023 and, in its shared waste service, in the second half of 2023. In both cases, the intention was that staff would deliver 100% of the work in 80% of the time for 100% of the pay.

Opposition

In November 2023, the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities formally notified the council to ensure taxpayers’ money was well spent. It requested evidence on the trial, including staffing, costs, service delivery, resident feedback, overall performance since the start of the trial, and whether a four-day week should continue.

Speaking to BBC Radio Cambridge in March 2024, the then Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Local Government) threatened litigation to prevent the council from operating a four-day working week.

Health and well-being

In reliance upon independent analysis carried out by the University of Cambridge and the University of Salford and independent health and well-being surveys, the council reported the following findings:

• Performance measured by key performance indicators was maintained or improved in 22 of 24 areas assessed
• There has been a reduction in complaints
• Staff turnover decreased by 39%
• The number of applications received for roles advertised externally increased by an average of 53%
• Job satisfaction and staff well-being improved significantly on all metrics

Comment

Despite the release of successful results from the UK four-day working week pilot in February 2023, the Conservative government issued non-statutory guidance discouraging local authorities in England from adopting a four-day week.

Labour’s Plan to Make Work Pay includes making flexible working the default from day one for all workers, with employers required to accommodate this as far as is reasonable. This could form part of the Employment Rights Bill, which is expected to come into force by October 2024. 

Whether or not employers choose to consider moving to a four-day working week, we can expect to see increasingly creative ways of working, with the standard ‘9 to 5’ becoming a thing of the past.

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