[UK] Council ordered to immediately end four-day workweek trial

A UK council undergoing a four-day workweek trial has been ordered to stop the experiment by a local government minister over concerns about residents not getting value for their money, City A.M. reports.

South Cambridgeshire District Council was the UK’s first local authority to introduce a shorter workweek trial for employees and announced it intended to extend the scheme until April.

However, minister Lee Rowley has written to Liberal Democrat council leader Bridget Smith to “ask that you end your experiment immediately”.

Mr Rowley said he had concerns about the “value for money” for local taxpayers.

Elliot Keck, from the Taxpayers’ Alliance, reportedly supported the move. He said, “Local taxpayers will be delighted to see the government joining us in opposing the council clock-off.”

In his letter, the minister told South Cambs, “All councils are expected to ensure that finite and valuable taxpayers’ money is used in a way which demonstrates value for money.

“Something which paying employees for an extra day of work that is not carried out is unlikely to demonstrate.”

The June 30 letter continued, “Removing up to 20 per cent of capacity is not something which should be acceptable for a council seeking to demonstrate value for money.”

Mr Keck added, “A local authority which residents rely on for key services is not the place for a radical four-day week experiment. Any other public sector body considering implementing similar trials should do taxpayers a favour and scrap the plans.”

Huge success

A number of private sector businesses have launched four-day week pilots as the post-pandemic corporate landscape shifts towards flexible working.

The council said its four-day week trial was intended to continue to “deliver excellent services to residents and businesses while improving consistency and reducing costs”.

Joe Ryle - director of the 4-Day Week campaign group - said, “This move flies in the face of all the evidence, which shows the four-day week has been a huge success at the council.

“The four-day week with no loss of pay is already being rolled out across the private sector so it’s only fair that the public sector is included too.”

Council leader Ms Smith has reportedly requested a meeting with ministers to discuss the issue, claiming that independent data shows “performance was maintained at the level shortly before the trial, while some areas of performance data saw significant improvement”.

Mr Rowley said the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities will “shortly be issuing clear guidance” on this matter.

Source: City A.M.

(Link and quotes via original reporting)

A UK council undergoing a four-day workweek trial has been ordered to stop the experiment by a local government minister over concerns about residents not getting value for their money, City A.M. reports.

South Cambridgeshire District Council was the UK’s first local authority to introduce a shorter workweek trial for employees and announced it intended to extend the scheme until April.

However, minister Lee Rowley has written to Liberal Democrat council leader Bridget Smith to “ask that you end your experiment immediately”.

Mr Rowley said he had concerns about the “value for money” for local taxpayers.

Elliot Keck, from the Taxpayers’ Alliance, reportedly supported the move. He said, “Local taxpayers will be delighted to see the government joining us in opposing the council clock-off.”

In his letter, the minister told South Cambs, “All councils are expected to ensure that finite and valuable taxpayers’ money is used in a way which demonstrates value for money.

“Something which paying employees for an extra day of work that is not carried out is unlikely to demonstrate.”

The June 30 letter continued, “Removing up to 20 per cent of capacity is not something which should be acceptable for a council seeking to demonstrate value for money.”

Mr Keck added, “A local authority which residents rely on for key services is not the place for a radical four-day week experiment. Any other public sector body considering implementing similar trials should do taxpayers a favour and scrap the plans.”

Huge success

A number of private sector businesses have launched four-day week pilots as the post-pandemic corporate landscape shifts towards flexible working.

The council said its four-day week trial was intended to continue to “deliver excellent services to residents and businesses while improving consistency and reducing costs”.

Joe Ryle - director of the 4-Day Week campaign group - said, “This move flies in the face of all the evidence, which shows the four-day week has been a huge success at the council.

“The four-day week with no loss of pay is already being rolled out across the private sector so it’s only fair that the public sector is included too.”

Council leader Ms Smith has reportedly requested a meeting with ministers to discuss the issue, claiming that independent data shows “performance was maintained at the level shortly before the trial, while some areas of performance data saw significant improvement”.

Mr Rowley said the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities will “shortly be issuing clear guidance” on this matter.

Source: City A.M.

(Link and quotes via original reporting)