Local Government Secretary Warns English Councils Against Four-Day Working Weeks
Local Government Secretary Steve Reed has written to all council leaders in England to caution against the introduction of four-day working weeks. In his letter, Reed emphasized that paying full-time salaries for part-time work without clear justification could indicate potential failure and reiterated current government policy on the matter.
A Labour source stated that voters expect council services and staffing standards to operate on a five-day-a-week basis. Reed's communication made it clear that councils should not offer full-time pay for reduced working hours.
Reed had previously expressed deep disappointment with South Cambridgeshire District Council, which became the first English council to adopt a four-day working week in July 2023 following a trial earlier that year. The council, which is Liberal Democrat-led, reportedly experienced a decline in its housing service performance after adopting the new schedule. As a result, officials are urged to consider mitigating actions to address service issues.
The UK government holds the authority to intervene in any council deemed to be failing.
Meanwhile, a separate Scottish pilot project on the four-day working week reported productivity gains and improved staff well-being. According to the Autonomy Institute, 98% of staff in that pilot rated morale and motivation as improved.
