Budapest Post

Cum Deo pro Patria et Libertate
Budapest, Europe and world news

Surprise, surprise, most of us want a four-day working week

Surprise, surprise, most of us want a four-day working week

Most people in the UK support moving to a four-day working week, new polling reveals.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, almost six in ten adults say they want to see the standard working week reduced to 32 hours, with no loss of pay.

The research comes after the Scottish government announced it would be trialling the move, after various other pilot schemes across the world.

According to the data from Opinium, shared exclusively with Metro.co.uk, almost six in ten adults (57%) support moving to a shorter working week, while only 21% of people oppose the move.

More than a third of both men and women (34%) strongly support the idea and although backing drops dramatically among the over 65s and in Conservative voters, both groups still come out in favour.

Very few people across various demographics strongly oppose the idea, which was a key part of Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour manifesto in 2019, before his party were roundly defeated.

The polling, which asked 2,001 adults about the proposal on September 22 and 23, comes after the Scottish government announced that it would be pursuing a new policy of a four day week with no loss in pay.

People were largely supportive of the switch, according to Opinium


The Scottish National Party is also creating a £10 million fund to help companies that want to try out a shorter working week.

Previous polls have also shown similar levels of support among Brits for a trial of the scheme across the UK – suggesting backing for the policy remains relatively stable.

Researchers in Iceland branded a long-term trial in the country – which led to many Icelanders moving to shorter hours – an ‘overwhelming success’.

The study suggested productivity remained stable or increased, while employers did not lose money and wellbeing went up ‘dramatically’.

And following the Covid crisis, nearly a fifth of UK companies say they are now considering switching to a four-day week, one survey says.

Clive Lewis, a former Labour leadership candidate, said: ‘It’s no surprise that such large numbers of people support moving to a shorter working week, with evidence from across the world showing it can have a really positive impact on working people and the businesses they work for.’

The Norwich South MP added: ‘As we emerge from the pandemic we have a real chance to do things differently – and moving to a shorter working week, where people have more time to spend with family and friends, and where the balance between work and leisure is more balanced, would be a major step forwards.’

World leaders in countries like Finland and New Zealand have backed the idea, which experts believe would create more jobs.

But not everyone is sold, with some businesses not convinced that the move makes financial success.

A Government spokesperson told Metro.co.uk: ‘There are no plans for the government to mandate a four-day working week, as the cost to the economy, businesses and jobs would be excessive.

‘However, we know how important flexible working arrangements are which is why only last week we announced a wide ranging package of measures to help give employees more flexible working options in the future.’

The new Government proposals are set to allow workers to ask their employers for flexible working from the first day in their new job.

But activists like Joe Ryle, the Campaign Director of the 4 Day Week Campaign, want them to go further.

He said: ‘The four-day week with no loss of pay is good for workers, good for productivity and good for the environment.

‘Scotland and Ireland are going ahead with trials, Wales is considering the same and the time has come for Boris Johnson to give the go ahead to trials in England.

‘We invented the weekend a century ago and it’s time for an update. The 9-5, 5 day working week is outdated and no longer fit for purpose.’

AI Disclaimer: An advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system generated the content of this page on its own. This innovative technology conducts extensive research from a variety of reliable sources, performs rigorous fact-checking and verification, cleans up and balances biased or manipulated content, and presents a minimal factual summary that is just enough yet essential for you to function as an informed and educated citizen. Please keep in mind, however, that this system is an evolving technology, and as a result, the article may contain accidental inaccuracies or errors. We urge you to help us improve our site by reporting any inaccuracies you find using the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of this page. Your helpful feedback helps us improve our system and deliver more precise content. When you find an article of interest here, please look for the full and extensive coverage of this topic in traditional news sources, as they are written by professional journalists that we try to support, not replace. We appreciate your understanding and assistance.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Severe Heatwave Claims 2,300 Lives Across Europe
Declining Beer Consumption Signals Cultural Shift in Germany
Emails Leaked: How Passenger Luggage Became a Side Income for Airport Workers
Polish MEP: “Dear Leftists - China is laughing at you, Russia is laughing, India is laughing”
Western Europe Records Hottest June on Record
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
France Requests Airlines to Cut Flights at Paris Airports Amid Planned Air Traffic Controller Strike
Poland Implements Border Checks Amid Growing Migration Tensions
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
Amazon Reaches Milestone with Deployment of One Millionth Robot
Yulia Putintseva Calls for Spectator Ejection at Wimbledon Over Safety Concerns
House Oversight Committee Subpoenas Former Jill Biden Aide Amid Investigation into Alleged Concealment of President Biden's Cognitive Health
Amazon Reaches Major Automation Milestone with Over One Million Robots
Extreme Heat Wave Sweeps Across Europe, Hitting Record Temperatures
Meta Announces Formation of Ambitious AI Unit, Meta Superintelligence Labs
Robots Compete in Football Tournament in China Amid Injuries
China Unveils Miniature Insect-Like Surveillance Drone
Marc Marquez Claims Victory at Dutch Grand Prix Amidst Family Misfortune
Germany Votes to Suspend Family Reunification for Asylum Seekers
Budapest Pride Parade Draws 200,000 Participants Amid Government Ban
Southern Europe Experiences Extreme Heat
Xiaomi's YU7 SUV Launch Garners Record Pre-Orders Amid Market Challenges
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's Lavish Wedding in Venice
Russia Launches Largest Air Assault on Ukraine Since Invasion
Massive Anti-Government Protests Erupt in Belgrade
Iran Executes Alleged Israeli Spies and Arrests Hundreds Amid Post-War Crackdown
Hungary's Prime Minister Criticizes NATO's Role in Ukraine
EU TO HUNGARY: LET THEM PRIDE OR PREP FOR SHADE. ORBÁN TO EU: STAY IN YOUR LANE AND FIX YOUR OWN MESS.
Hungarian Scientist to Conduct 30 Research Experiments on the International Space Station
NATO Members Agree to 5% Defense Spending Target by 2035
NATO Leaders Endorse Plan for Increased Defence Spending
U.S. Crude Oil Prices Drop Below $65 Amid Market Volatility
International Astronaut Team Launched to Space Station
Macron and Merz: Europe must arm itself in an unstable world
Germany and Italy Under Pressure to Repatriate $245bn of Gold from US Vaults
Iran Intensifies Crackdown on Alleged Mossad Operatives After Sabotage Claims
Trump Praises Iran’s ‘Very Weak’ Response After U.S. Strikes and Presses Israel to Pursue Peace
Oil Prices Set to Surge After US Strikes Iran
BA and Singapore Airlines Cancel Dubai Flights Amid Middle East Tensions
Trump Faces Backlash from MAGA Base Over Iran Strikes
Meta Bets $14 B on Alexandr Wang to Drive AI Ambitions
FedEx Founder Fred Smith, ‘Heart and Soul’ of the Company, Dies at 80
Chinese Factories Shift Away from U.S. Amid Trump‑Era Tariffs
Pimco Seizes Opportunity in Japan’s Dislocated Bond Market
Labubu Doll Drives Pop Mart to Status as China’s Most Valuable Toy Maker
Global Coal Demand Defies Paris Accord Goals
United States Conducts Precision Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Sites
US strikes Iran nuclear sites, Trump says
×