Scots show more support than rest of UK for four-day week proposals

Scots are more supportive of the introduction of a four-day working week than the rest of Britain, according to new polling.

The Survation survey found 70 per cent of people north of the Border back the more flexible working approach compared with 63 per cent across the UK on average. The Scottish figure is higher than England and Wales, although lower than the 75 per cent in Northern Ireland, according to the poll of more than 2000 UK adults commissioned by the Autonomy think tank.

Nicola Sturgeon has urged employers to consider moving to a four-day week as part of the post-lockdown economy, while a cross-party group of MPS from Labour, SNP, Plaid Cymru, the SDLP and the Green Party recently signed an Early Day Motion calling on the UK government to set up a commission to consider the proposal.

Theglasgow-basedcharity Advice Direct Scotland, which runs Scotland’s national advice service advice.scot, introduced a four-day working week for all staff in 2018. All 90 members of staff receive the same wages, while working fewer hours. Andrew Bartlett, chief executive of Advice Direct Scotland, said: “In 2018 we became one of the first major organisations in Scotland to introduce a four-day working week, recognising the positive difference this would make.

“This has undoubtedly led to greater productivity and positivity among employees, and we particularly encourage staff to share stories about the activities they enjoyed on their extra day off.

Will Stronge, director of research for the Autonomy think tank which commissioned the poll, described the four day week as a “multi-dividend policy.”