More than 100 business and charity leaders have urged the government to take the lead in moving England towards a four-day working week, saying the shift is already delivering benefits for employers and workers alike.
The open letter, coordinated by the 4 Day Week Foundation, calls on ministers to establish a new Working Time Council to help guide the national transition. It comes after Local Government Secretary Steve Reed criticised South Cambridgeshire District Council, the first English local authority to trial the shorter week.
Reed said he was “deeply disappointed” with the council’s decision and claimed an independent report found performance had declined in key housing-related services, including rent collection and tenant satisfaction.
However, supporters of the policy say the data shows a very different picture.
‘Transformative, not theoretical’
In their letter to the Business Secretary, the signatories — who include senior figures from business, trade unions, and charities — said the government should “lead the country’s transition toward a shorter working week” and help unlock its social and economic potential.
“Shorter working weeks are not only viable but transformative,” the letter said. “From different sectors and company sizes, we have all witnessed the same outcome: greater productivity, better staff wellbeing, and improved recruitment and retention.”
The signatories argue that the evidence from both private and public sector trials has been overwhelmingly positive.
Since 2022, dozens of British companies — from marketing firms to manufacturers — have adopted the four-day, full-pay model, reporting reduced burnout and higher output. The Foundation says at least 430 UK firms, representing over 13,000 workers, now operate on shorter weeks.
According to Office for National Statistics (ONS) data, more than 200,000 workers across the UK have switched to a four-day pattern since the Covid-19 pandemic.
South Cambridgeshire defends its results
Bridget Smith, leader of South Cambridgeshire District Council, said she was “extremely disappointed” by Reed’s comments, insisting that most council services had improved or stayed the same since the trial began.
“Our financial analysis indicates that as a result of the four-day week we are saving around £399,000 per year, largely due to reducing our reliance on agency staff,” she said.
Smith also rejected claims of declining performance, saying staff continued to deliver “100% of their work in 32 hours each week.”
The trial, which began in 2023, was independently assessed and will continue until at least 2026.
Government resistance
While ministers have no legal power to block four-day weeks in local councils, Reed’s intervention reflects wider scepticism inside government. Officials have questioned whether shorter working patterns risk undermining service delivery and value for money for taxpayers.
Joe Ryle, director of the 4 Day Week Foundation, said Reed’s comments made the government look “outdated and stuck in the past.”
“The evidence is clear — four-day working weeks are good for workers and good for business,” he said. “When the private sector embraces it, it’s praised as innovation. But when the public sector tries it, it suddenly becomes controversial.”
At least 25 other councils are reportedly exploring similar trials next year. Advocates argue that the benefits — including improved wellbeing, lower sickness absence, and reduced staff turnover — could save money in the long term.
