Conservatives Plan Legislation to Ban Four-Day Workweeks in UK Public Sector

The Conservative Party has pledged to introduce legislation banning four-day workweeks with full salaries in the public sector, including local authorities, if it wins the next general election. Shadow Communities Secretary Sir James Cleverly announced the plans on Tuesday. The measure would apply to all public services paying employees five days' wages for four days' work.

" — Sir James Cleverly (GB News) Sir James Cleverly stated that such arrangements fail to deliver value for money. He argued that they do a disservice to hard-working families. The Conservatives intend to bring forward a bill establishing work conditions for public sector employees.

Council, led by the Liberal Democrats, has implemented a permanent four-day week for staff.

It is the only local authority to have fully adopted the practice. Under the scheme, employees deliver their full workload in 80 percent of usual contracted hours without pay reduction. Bridget Smith, the council's leader, said the authority performs at exceptionally high levels.

The policy has generated approximately £400,000 in yearly savings, according to council officials. Officials cited academic studies supporting the trial's effectiveness. Ms Smith dismissed the Conservative proposal, calling it political gymnastics from an outdated and out-of-touch party.

More than 20 councils have discussed implementing similar arrangements. Twenty-five authorities were in talks with the Four Day Week Foundation last year, including Glasgow, Edinburgh, Belfast, and Fermanagh and Omagh.

The current Labour government has expressed concerns about the practice.

Communities Secretary Steve Reed wrote to local authorities in December, cautioning that four-day weeks for full-time staff could lead to intervention. He indicated that paying full-time wages for part-time hours could be considered an indicator of potential council failure, allowing ministers to take control and restore five-day patterns.