A report by academics found a controversial four-day week experiment by South Cambridgeshire District Council had helped save nearly £400,000 of taxpayers’ cash a year
A controversial four-day working week trial has seen standards improve and huge sums of money saved, academics found.
Campaigners have called on the Government to push for the move – which sees staff work four longer days – to be rolled out further. A study into the experiment by South Cambridgeshire District Council found turnover plummeted by 39% since it started a trial in January last year.
This is saving taxpayers an estimated £371,500 a year in recruitment and agency fees, a new report said. A new report found that performance improved in 11 out of 24 areas, with faster planning decisions and speedier changes to housing benefits. There was no noticeable impact in 11, while there were falls in two areas.
The area’s ousted Tory MP, Anthony Browne, had demanded the trial was ended immediately, dismissing it as an “ideological crusade”. The four-day working week, which sees staff pick up the same pay and work the same hours, was brought in because the council was struggling to recruit in key jobs.
Joe Ryle, Director of the 4 Day Week Campaign, said: “These results prove once and for all that a four-day week with no loss of pay absolutely can succeed in a local government setting.
“Not only has work-life balance dramatically improved but so has the performance of the council. With a more sympathetic Labour government now in place, there is a huge opportunity for councils and organisations across the public sector to start planning for a four-day working week.”
It also found it was difficult to keep hold of staff, especially at a time when finances for pay rises is limited. According to the report, there has been a 53% rise in the average number of applications for roles.
The Lib Dem-controlled council’s report also found improvements in mental health, physical health and motivation since January last year. Complaints by staff dropped dramatically too.
One staff member told researchers from the University of Cambridge and the University of Salford there was a “dramatically better environment”. They said: “People are happier, not at the end of their tether, and better able to cope with challenges. Also seems to be a more efficient attitude to work.”
The council said services are still operating five days a week. Just two areas – rent collection for council housing and the speed council houses were re-let worsened slightly. But the former was likely impacted by the cost-of-living crisis, researchers said.
