A brand new ballot claims {that a} vital majority of voters who supported the brand new Labour authorities are in favour of transitioning the UK to a shorter working week. Based on information collected by Survation and commissioned by The Autonomy Institute, 72 p.c of Labour voters again the thought of a four-day work week. The survey, which included responses from 2,048 adults, particularly requested whether or not members would help a authorities initiative to maneuver in the direction of a shorter working week, with no lack of pay, by the 12 months 2030.
The proposal for a four-day work week seems to have substantial help throughout the political spectrum. Amongst those that voted for Reform UK, 59 p.c expressed their help for the initiative. Moreover, 66 p.c of Labour voters are in favour of increasing trials throughout the general public sector to check the feasibility of a diminished working week. This comes on the heels of a profitable four-day week trial by South Cambridgeshire District Council, which grew to become the primary UK council to experiment with this working mannequin.
Advocates for the four-day work week are gaining momentum, with campaigners and organizations not too long ago asserting a second main UK pilot set to launch within the autumn. Earlier analysis has proven that companies collaborating within the final large-scale pilot in 2022 noticed enhancements in efficiency, productiveness, and worker well-being. Notably, a examine by The Autonomy Institute discovered that 54 of the 61 firms concerned within the 2022 pilot have continued with the four-day week a 12 months and a half later.
The push for a shorter working week has additionally gained institutional backing. In June, UNISON, the UK’s largest union, formally endorsed the four-day work week at its nationwide convention. Delegates handed a movement calling on the subsequent authorities to take motion to encourage extra employers to undertake this modern strategy to work.
Will Stronge, director of analysis at The Autonomy Institute, emphasised the widespread public help for such a coverage. “Our polling reveals that if Keir Starmer have been to maneuver forward with insurance policies to allow the nation to transition to a four-day working week, he would have the help of huge swathes of the UK inhabitants,” Stronge mentioned. He additionally famous that UK employees at the moment endure a few of the longest full-time hours in Europe, with no vital discount in working hours for the reason that Nineteen Eighties. “Labour’s New Deal for Working Folks is an effective begin, however what’s absent is a severe plan round working time discount: if the precedence is well being, first rate working situations, and enterprise innovation, this must be a part of the programme,” Stronge added.
Peter Dowd, Labour MP for Bootle, echoed these sentiments, expressing sturdy help for Labour’s New Deal for Working Folks whereas calling for insurance policies that additional cut back working hours. “After many years of working a few of the longest hours in Europe, British employees are burnt out, overworked, and in determined want of a break,” Dowd mentioned. He argued {that a} four-day week with no lack of pay wouldn’t solely improve employees’ work-life steadiness but in addition enhance productiveness.
