Proposal for a 10-Day Week and Other Perspectives on Work and Society
In a letter published by The Guardian on 15 December 2025, Ruth Guthrie from Brigham, Cumbria, proposes an innovative calendar reform: a 10-day week consisting of seven working days followed by three days off. She explains that in a 30-day month this would create three full weeks with days remaining, which could inspire a national competition to name the three extra weekdays.
The letter references a Guardian piece from 9 December highlighting increasing support for a four-day workweek in England.
Other contributors also weigh in on various social and cultural topics. Wal Callaby of Whatfield, Suffolk, draws attention to a day when US troops reportedly seized a tanker of Venezuelan oil, contextualized by Donald Trump's remarks on Somalia.
Gillian Bassett from Great Barford, Bedfordshire, advocates for renewed investment in music services to combat 'writing fatigue' and cites Ofqual's statement on 11 December that GCSE and A-level exams might be taken on laptops by 2030.
Jane Sutherland of Dry Drayton, Cambridgeshire, poses a question about potentially being excluded from the US under a new Trump plan due to having no social media presence.
Steve Clarke, Newport, East Yorkshire, humorously summarizes life in four stages: lager, Aga, Saga, and gaga.
These letters form part of The Guardian's Brief letters section under Work & careers, published on Monday, 15 December 2025.
