Public gives overwhelming backing to introduction of four-day working week

MORE than eight out of 10 people in Scotland would support the introduction of a four-day working week, a poll has found.

A survey for the Institute for Public Policy Research Scotland found 80 per cent of those questioned believed that cutting their number of days at work – with no loss of pay – would have a “positive effect on their wellbeing”.

The poll also found 88% of respondents – about 2,203 people aged between 16 and 65 were questioned – would be willing to take part in trial schemes being set up by Scottish Government ministers.

Pilots are being staged in the wake of changes in working practices brought about by the coronavirus pandemic, with the Government having pledged a £10 million fund for companies trialling a four-day week.

But IPPR Scotland, a think-tank, said the Scottish Government should expand such schemes to include more sectors of the economy, people working in non-office-based jobs, those who do shift work and part-time employees.

The think-tank argued that unless lower-paid sectors were included in the pilot, along with those who may find making the shift to a four-day week more difficult, the trial schemes may not properly test the impact of such a switch.

However, the poll also found almost two-thirds (65%) believe a shorter working week could boost Scotland’s productivity.

Rachel Statham, senior research fellow at IPPR Scotland, said: “The Scottish Government is right to be trialling a four-day working week because today’s evidence shows that it is a policy with overwhelming public support.

“But any successful transition post-covid-19 must include all kinds of workplaces, and all types of work. The full-time, nine-to-five office job is not how many people across Scotland work and shorter working time trials need to reflect that reality.

A government spokesman said: “The pandemic has served to intensify interest in and support for more flexible working practices, which could include a shift to a four-day working week.

“We are in the early stages of designing a £10 million pilot that will help companies explore the benefits and costs of moving to a four-day working week.”