Tories vow to ‘end nonsense’ of four-day working week for council staff

The Conservatives would ban full-time council staff from working a four-day week, saying the party would “put an end to the nonsense” if they regain power at the next election.

Announcing the proposal, shadow local government secretary Sir James Cleverly said “taxpayers should not be paying full price for part-time services”.

He said the four-day working week, with staff typically completing 100 per cent of their work in 80 per cent of contracted hours and no pay cuts, was “not good value for money”.

This is despite a nationwide trial being hailed as a success, with an improvement in staff morale and employee wellbeing noted and no decline in productivity.

Sir James said: “A four-day working week where pay remains the same but hours are reduced is not value for money and will harm hard-working families just trying to get by.

“The Conservatives will end this nonsense and have a clear plan to ensure taxpayers get the services they pay for, deliver a stronger economy and ensure taxpayers get the services they pay for.”

Around 1.4 million people work in England’s local authorities, with staff costs reaching around £22 billion a year, according to the Local Government Association, which represents councils.

Currently, council employees can request changes to their working hours from their first day of work, in line with UK laws on flexible working requests.

The Labor government’s policy is that “local authorities should not offer full-time pay for part-time work”, as local government secretary Steve Reed put it in a letter to council leaders late last year.

Instead, he suggested that a four-day working week with full pay “may be considered an indicator of potential failure across a wide range of factors” in a local government.

Under the Conservatives’ proposed ‘Prohibition of the Four-Day Week and Protection of Public Services Act’, anyone working in a public service, including all council employees, would be prevented from working shorter weeks.

South Cambridgeshire District Council introduced a four-day working week in 2023. The council found 21 of 24 service areas improved or remained the same during reduced opening hours; This includes increasing the percentage of calls answered by the council’s contact center and reducing the time it takes to decide on applications.

A previous trial of a four-day working week at public sector organization South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE) found that 98 per cent of employees were more motivated and happier in their jobs when they worked fewer hours.

Will Stronge, chief executive of the Autonomy Institute, which organized the research, said: “These ground-breaking results show the public sector can reap similar benefits, including increased productivity, employee wellbeing and work-life balance.”

Bridget Smith, leader of South Cambridgeshire District Council, said the move to a four-day week had reduced staff turnover and saved around £400,000, while the council continued to be an “extraordinarily high performer”.

Highlighting the Conservative Party’s plans, he said: “Once again we are witnessing the political gymnastics of this outdated and out-of-touch Conservative Party collapsing into a collective faint at the dire prospect of a council functioning better while saving taxpayers’ money.”

A Labor spokesman said: “It is an absolute disgrace that the Conservatives are once again railing against events that took place under their control and against which they took no action.

“This government has already told municipalities not to pay five days’ salary for four days’ work.”