UK’s South Cambridgeshire makes four-day workweek permanent
CAMBRIDGE, UNITED KINGDOM — South Cambridgeshire District Council has become the first council in the United Kingdom to permanently adopt a four-day working week for its staff at full pay, following a decisive vote by councilors.
At a meeting held on July 17, 26 councilors voted in favor of the move, with nine opposing the policy.
Employees have been on trial with the compressed workweek since January 2023, where they are required to perform 100% of their job in about 80% of the hours, without a reduction in pay.
“This is the most important decision this council has made in its 50-year history,” said Liberal Democrat leader Bridget Smith during the meeting.
Report shows improved services and recruitment
The council cited an independent analysis by the universities of Salford, Bradford, and Cambridge, which found that 21 out of 24 services improved or remained unchanged during the four-day week trial.
Key improvements included faster call answering, quicker decisions on planning applications, and speedier council house repairs.
Additional findings highlighted:
- Job applicants rose by more than 120%
- Ongoing yearly savings of £399,263 ($537,000), largely from reduced agency staffing
- Lower staff turnover, offering greater stability for services
Councilor dissent and concerns raised
Despite the independent report’s positive findings, the council’s Conservative opposition argued for greater transparency and scrutiny of both the trial and the report.
Councilor Heather Williams accused the council’s leadership of “trying to evade scrutiny,” referencing a residents’ survey that suggested a “decrease in satisfaction across the board.”
Conservative councilor Tom Bygott argued that recruitment issues were more about the local cost of living than workload, saying, “If you try and call the council on a Monday or a Friday, it is incredibly difficult to get hold of anyone.”
Next steps with shared services
South Cambridgeshire’s policy move affects not only its staff but also those involved in shared services with Cambridge City Council, such as waste collection and planning.
Cambridge City Council is set to vote on continuing the working practice at its meeting on July 24, which may further extend the scheme.
If endorsed, this development could shape future working patterns for local authorities across the UK, as other councils watch the impact on service, cost, and staff welfare.
