Coining the term ‘Burnout Britain’, the 4 Day Week Campaign Group has released a mini-manifesto ahead of the 2024 General Election which calls for amendments to the Working Time Regulations 1998 to reduce the maximum working week from the current 48 hours to a four-day, to a 32-hour working week with no loss of pay.
The mini-manifesto policies also include:
- A change to flexible working guidance which would include the right for workers to request a four-day, 32-hour working week with no loss of pay;
- A £100m fund to support companies in the private sector as they make the move to a four-day, 32-hour working week; and
- An entirely financed four-day working week pilot in the public sector.
The campaign follows the success of the Campaign’s four-day working week pilot. The pilot engaged 61 companies and 2,900 employees across the UK, with 92% deciding to continue with a four-day working week without cutting pay.
Labour MP for Norwich South, Clive Lewis, encouraged Keir Starmer to “back this policy to give people some hope and reassurance that the future will be better under a Labour government.”
Historically, the Labour Party has supported a four-day working week with some senior members allegedly backing the campaign. However, the campaign is not without opposition. A survey carried out by Survation noted that 44% of current Labour voters would be more likely to vote for the Conservatives if the 4 day week campaign had Labour backing.
