Labour could be about to open the door to British workers gaining the right to demand a four-day working week, it is reported.
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner is said to have been championing the cause and a new law planned to be introduced this autumn will allow an employee to work their contracted week’s hours across a four-day period, rather than the usual five.
The Telegraph reports the new system of “compressed hours” will be included in a package of new workers’ rights. It is understood the planned new law package comes after close consultation with not only trade unions, but business leaders as well.
A Department for Business and Trade spokesman denied they would “impose” the working pattern on businesses. They added: “We have no plans to impose a four-day working week on employers or employees. Any changes to employment legislation will be consulted on, working in partnership with business.”
Workers already enjoy the right to request flexible working hours from their employer, but companies are not legally obliged to agree to it. But it is said that that power balance is set to be radically changed under Labour, and companies could encouraged to offer flexible hours from the start of a new job, with the only exception being where it is not “reasonably feasible”.
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While the move will be widely welcomed by ordinary people across the country, desperate Tories claimed it undermined Labour’s promise to prioritise growing the economy. This is despite multiple studies showing a four-day working week and flexible working actually increases productivity.
Workers are set to be given far greater powers to ask employers to agree to let them complete their contracted week’s hours in a four-day period, most likely taking Friday off, along with the usual weekend.
A Labour source told the Telegraph that the Tories vowed to make flexible working the “default” in their 2019 manifesto, and cited the studies that showed it increased productivity.
A Labour source was quoted as saying: “The Conservatives pledged to make flexible working the default then failed to do so. We’ll build on their existing legislation to ensure flexibility is a genuine default, except where it is not reasonably feasible for employers to agree.
“Flexible working options such as compressed hours and term-time working can support more people to stay in the workforce and boost productivity, whether keeping parents in their jobs or helping those juggling caring responsibilities for older relatives.”
It is reported that the working rights package will be called Labour’s Plan to Make Work Pay. It follows years of discussions and debates with trade unions. Ministers are said to be planning to make the changes by October. Much of the discussion focuses on hybrid working and working from home, as well as the right to ‘switch off’ – the right for workers to refuse to respond to emails after they have left work, with “compressed hours” reportedly thought to also be part of the package.
In practice, an employee could do longer days – say 10 hours instead of eight – from Monday to Thursday, in order to get Friday off. One of the key takeaways is that companies will now have to cite specific reasons for opting out of flexible working, whereas before they were able to opt into it.
Labour supporters say it is as much about helping shift workers as it is for Monday to Friday office workers. And they also point out it will help new parents return to work and reduce crippling childcare costs.
Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds is said to be working on the new law with Ms Rayner. The legislation is expected to be published in mid-October and some elements will then enter a consultation process.