UK should adopt a four-day working week to ‘save the economy after the pandemic’, politicians say

Politicians across Europe have called for the UK, Germany and Spain among other countries to adopt a four-day working week to help economic recovery from the pandemic.

In a letter to Boris Johnson, German chancellor Angela Merkel, Spanish prime minister Pedro Sánchez, as well as other leaders, former shadow chancellor John McDonnell and a group of left wing politicians and union officials from across Europe have called for a four-day week.

The letter also includes Katja Kipping, the chair of Die Linke party in Germany; Íñigo Errejón, an MP in Spain’s Más País party; Green party MP Caroline Lucas; and Len McCluskey, general secretary of the Unite union.

The letter highlights the long history of workers agreeing to shorter hours to save jobs. It also explains the ‘opportunity’ to rethink working patterns, reduce energy consumption and ultimately help tackle the climate crisis. 

The group wrote: “Throughout history, shorter working hours have been used during times of crisis and economic recession as a way of sharing work more equally across the economy between the unemployed and the over-employed.

“For the advancement of civilisation and the good society, now is the moment to seize the opportunity and move towards shorter working hours with no loss of pay.”

Over the years, proposals for a four-day week have gained momentum, in part thanks to a growing number of companies who claim increases in productivity and improvements to employees’ mental health. 

The idea faces stiff opposition from business groups and right-of-centre politicians, however.

Britain’s biggest business lobby group, The Confederation of British Industry, argued that formalising a four-day week would be a step in the wrong direction back in 2019. 

Contrastingly, those for a four-day week often highlight that the average number of hours worked by people across the economy has not significantly reduced since the 80s, despite labour-saving technologies that should, in theory, free up more time for leisure. 

Joe Ryle, a campaigner for the 4 Day Week UK Campaign, said: “The Covid-19 pandemic has thrown the world of work up in the air, offering a much-needed opportunity to rethink how we work.

“The four-day working week has hit the mainstream and it’s now up to governments, business leaders and trade unions to work together to make it a reality.”

What do you think, are you for or against a four-day working week?