Cambridgeshire council, UK’s first, to trial four-day week hailed successful

The primary ever council trial of a four-day-week has been hailed as successful, with common worker efficiency enhancing.

South Cambridgeshire District Council trialled a four-day week for desk-based workers for 3 months, starting in January of this 12 months.

Workers might take both Monday or Friday off, and their pay was not affected.

In keeping with the Bennett Institute for Public Coverage based mostly on the College of Cambridge, which analysed the outcomes, efficiency improved general – with vital enchancment in some areas.

Because of this, an extension of the trial for an extra 12 months has been really helpful to the council’s management, in addition to a three-month trial for employees within the amenities administration workforce and shared waste providers.

The additional trials will go to a vote on the subsequent full council assembly on Could 15.

Nina Jorden, analysis affiliate on the Bennett Institute for Public Coverage, stated that “not a single KPI fell to a regarding degree” in the course of the trial.

“Performing 4 several types of rigorous knowledge evaluation, 9 out of 16 efficiency measurements confirmed a big enchancment in the course of the four-day week trial in comparison with the identical interval final 12 months, and that is regardless of some targets being raised internally,” she stated.

“General, we noticed an enchancment on common throughout efficiency measurements in the course of the four-day week. You will need to emphasise that not a single KPI fell to a regarding degree in the course of the trial.”

Joe Ryle, director of the 4 Day Week Marketing campaign, stated the trial “paves the best way” for different councils to comply with South Cambridgeshire’s lead.

“South Cambridgeshire’s historic trial has been an simple success and it paves the best way for different councils throughout the nation to comply with their lead,” he stated.

“All employees on this nation deserve a four-day week and so it’s solely honest that public sector employees profit too.

“The proof reveals {that a} four-day week with no lack of pay improves productiveness and is a win-win for each employees and employers.”