A national push for a four-day working week is gaining traction, as campaigners set their sights on at least 24 more local councils across the UK following a groundbreaking decision by South Cambridgeshire District Council to adopt the model permanently.
South Cambridgeshire recently became the first local authority in Britain to fully implement the four-day week, allowing staff to complete 100% of their duties in 80% of the time with no reduction in pay.
The council’s decision came after a year-long trial supported by independent analysis from the universities of Salford, Bradford and Cambridge, which found that 21 out of 24 services had either improved or remained stable. The council also reported a 120% rise in job applications, a 40% drop in staff turnover, and nearly £400,000 in savings on agency costs.
The campaign, led by the 4 Day Week Foundation, follows recent successes in the private sector, where over 200 businesses across multiple industries have made the shift to shorter working weeks without reducing salaries. Many of these businesses began with pilot schemes that showed consistent benefits in productivity, staff wellbeing, and retention.
Momentum for the four-day week has been building steadily. In early 2023, the world’s largest four-day week trial saw over 50 UK companies retain the model after experiencing positive results. This month, 17 private firms that joined a six-month trial run by the Foundation confirmed they would either implement a four-day schedule or a nine-day fortnight going forward.
South Cambridgeshire’s adoption of the policy has sparked interest in neighbouring authorities as well. The council has now extended the four-day model to staff it shares with Cambridge City Council. Leaders from both councils have expressed support for the move, especially as a strategy to address recruitment challenges.
According to the 4 Day Week Foundation, at least six more councils are close to adopting similar measures, while others including Belfast, Bristol, Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Fermanagh and Omagh are exploring the possibility. The Foundation also revealed that 16 additional councils have made contact regarding potential implementation, although their names remain confidential for now.
Advocates of the four-day week argue that the traditional five-day schedule, developed a century ago, no longer aligns with the needs of modern workers or evolving service demands. They believe that now is the time for public institutions to modernise their working practices in line with the successes already demonstrated in the private sector.
As pressure grows for a more flexible and sustainable approach to work, the coming months may see a surge in councils joining the shift towards a four-day working week, signalling a significant change in how local government operates across the UK.
