Should the United Kingdom transition to a four-day workweek?
Countries including Ireland, Scotland, Japan, and Sweden are experimenting with a four-day workweek, which requires employers to provide overtime pay to employees working more than 32 hours per week.
@ISIDEWITH2yrs2Y
Yes
@9GD2S6G7mos7MO
The UK economy is already underproductive internationally, a four-day work week would only make this worse.
@9GB4PQT7mos7MO
I think it creates a sense of power for the workforce that would then lead to an overturn in hierarchy as the workforce would want more and would eventually treat the new Thursday as the old Friday.
@ISIDEWITH2yrs2Y
No
@9GB4PQT7mos7MO
If you give a group of people something, they are likely to push further to see how much more they can get out of it. So to reduce to a 4 day workweek would just create the same lazyness and make the workforce push for a 3 day workweek.
@ISIDEWITH1yr1Y
@9D355DL9mos9MO
More research is needed to make a more informed decision
@9L8HZLVConservative1mo1MO
Yes, but only where it’s viable. Many service based businesses can do this, but businesses producing goods or agricultural products would find this difficult.
@9L7W9VL1mo1MO
No, because five-day workweek is low enough but require overtime pay for work over five days per week
@9KB5YXXLiberal Democrat2mos2MO
I think this should be done however the government should fund the losses that business will incur for missing out on earning potential for jobs that require a 24/7 approach such as haulage.
@9K7B7542mos2MO
For those sectors where this is viable absolutely as it has been demonstrated to increase productivity, morale, and work-life balance. Where this can be implemented it should. However, there are some sectors where this will not be possible.
@9K7B58Q2mos2MO
Yes, if it is not a particular industry that would face a significant impact from a day lost such as Facilities Management
@9LP4YWZ2wks2W
Maybe, why not trial it. More time off may result in happier economy which may result in less suicide and/crime rate. Maybe
@9LNJ7GMLiberal Democrat2wks2W
It should be optional but if you opt for a 4 day working week you will not be eligible for overtime pay.
@9LMW7N42wks2W
It's definitely worth experimenting with and trialling; I feel I need more information to have an informed view.
Only if it can definitely be shown to improve productivity and not damage the economy, whilst allowing flexibility for employers.
@9JYMMMQ3mos3MO
Not legally transition, but encourage and allow the market to show the pros and cons in action, including employee retention and company performance.
@9JG967S3mos3MO
No, but employers should be encouraged to promote flexible working hours to allow people to work the times they are most productive
@9CJQ88T10mos10MO
I would like to see it tested
@9B8Q2C91yr1Y
Yes but as an option keeping the same number of hours per week
@9B84XHJ1yr1Y
We should allow workers all over the world to have more freedom.
@9B5YVC2Libertarian1yr1Y
Yes but not government mandated
Only if salaries stay they same, not pro rata based, less hours but same money
@9B39SCV1yr1Y
No, we should wait for other major nations to transition first.
@9B36JPQConservative1yr1Y
Individual companies should be allowed to decide themselves
@99XWC97Conservative1yr1Y
People should work longer
@99VYBV21yr1Y
yes, but there should be a divergence from the traditional monday to friday pattern for majority of jobs
Make it a standard but still have options for people to work and don’t call it overtime
@98TQZLB1yr1Y
Yes, for business that would be able to do it without major loss
Yes, in professions and areas of work where it is attainable and sustainable.
@96R3Z4H2yrs2Y
No, government should encourage and support it so people have that option, but it shouldnt be compulsory
@96PCP5L2yrs2Y
We should experiment with one.
@96N7ZNQ2yrs2Y
Yes, but only if it benefits the consumer as well as the business.
@96JD8LBLiberal Democrat2yrs2Y
I believe this should be down to negotiation.
@96HZCCF2yrs2Y
Yes, but make it flexible
@96HPR84Liberal Democrat2yrs2Y
Companies should be able to offer this at their own discretion.
@96HN5VC2yrs2Y
it should be down to individual businesses to set their own policy
@96GZKZ22yrs2Y
Yes, But not for the government to decide
@96BHHR4Liberal Democrat2yrs2Y
Dependent on field and individual.
@969GRL42yrs2Y
No but it should be encouraged
@969CBTR2yrs2Y
Yes, if trials show it is successful.
@967W4732yrs2Y
Only for those who opt to a four day week
@965ZMC92yrs2Y
@964GPY92yrs2Y
If the UK can be as productive in 4 days as 5 over a 5 year average then yes
@933KDXW2yrs2Y
It should be up to the company
@92QSTSS2yrs2Y
Leave to the discretion of the business
@92QGLV52yrs2Y
If it increases productivity
@92KV9FH2yrs2Y
Yes, with the option to work 4 ten hour work days if wanted
The historical activity of users engaging with this question.
Loading data...
Loading chart...
Loading the political themes of users that engaged with this discussion
Loading data...