PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
4 day working week (5 November 2024)

That this House recognises that UK workers have some of the longest working hours in Europe, yet the UK’s productivity lags behind its G7 counterparts; further recognises that boosting productivity is a priority for the government’s “Five Missions for Britain”; notes that, according to a recent Mental Health First Aid England report, the five-day working week is hindering productivity and contributing to stress, burnout, and poor mental health, costing the UK economy £28 billion annually; further notes that trials of a four-day week, including in the UK, have found that shorter working hours with no loss of pay can significantly boost productivity, whilst also reducing workplace stress and burnout, and that a report by the Autonomy Institute and Alda shows that Iceland’s economy has outperformed most of Europe after adopting a shorter working week; is disappointed that the Employment Rights Bill does not include steps towards a four-day week with no loss of pay despite prior indications; welcomes the newly announced 1,000-person four-day week trial as an important step; calls on the Government to take further steps by introducing a far-reaching public sector pilot within local authorities across the UK, similar to the initiatives by the Scottish Government and South Cambridgeshire District Council; and further calls on the Government to provide local authorities with the necessary funding to implement this trial successfully.

Sponsored by:
Carla Denyer (Green Party)