Under new government plans, UK workers could be given the right to request a four-day working week.
The education minister, Jacqui Smith, on Friday morning dismissed reports of businesses being forced to accept these demands but said workers could be given the option to work fewer days through “compressed hours”.
“So perhaps instead of working eight hours a day for five days, you work 10 hours a day for four days. So you’re still doing the same amount of work, but perhaps you’re doing it in a way that enables you, for example, to need less childcare, to spend more time with your family, to do other things, that encourages more people into the workplace, which is an enormous part of that growth mission.” Smith said.
However, this plan will not be forced on businesses’ employment legislation.
“We are working in close partnership with business and civil society to find the balance between improving workers’ rights while supporting the brilliant businesses that pay people’s wages.” said a Whitehall spokesperson.
Joe Ryle, the director of the 4 Day Week campaign, welcomed the proposals as a step towards reducing the UK’s overall working hours.