[Scotland] Government urged to expand 4 day working week trial

The Scottish government has been urged to expand its ongoing trial of a four day working week after research revealed overwhelming support for the project, The Big Issue reports.

Think tank IPPR Scotland learned that almost 90 per cent of working-age people in Scotland would be happy to take part in experiments to see whether reducing worker’s hours for the same pay could improve wellbeing and narrow gender divides.

The think tank polled 2,200 people and found 80 per cent of staff believe shortening the working week would have a positive impact on wellbeing, while 65 per cent think it would boost the economy.

IPPR Scotland senior research fellow Rachel Statham said trials must now be carried out in “all kinds of workplaces”, including non-office jobs, to provide a thorough test of how the idea works in practice.

“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, and could be a positive step towards building an economy hardwired for wellbeing,” Ms Statham said.

“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.

“So we must examine what shorter working time looks like from the perspective of shift workers, those working excessive hours to make ends meet, or those who currently have fewer hours than they would like to have. It’s time to turn our ambitions to build a Scotland better than before, into reality. That reality has to be a fairer, wellbeing economy in which everyone in Scotland can thrive.”

Nicola Sturgeon unveiled plans to trial a four-day working week after her re-election in May. The Scottish First Minister has announced a £10m fund to trial the concept, she said the government would “explore whether the changes in working practices brought about by the pandemic can improve wellbeing and productivity.”

So far, Orocco - an Edinburgh-based construction company - and Glasgow’s packaging supplier UPAC are among the businesses that have signed up to a trial while Masterchef finalist Dean Banks has also vowed to bring a four-day week to his Pompadour restaurant in Edinburgh from October. 

IPPR Scotland’s report, released on September 1, concluded that workers from across the economy will need to be included in the trial. However, the think tank noted that workers in lower-paid sectors might need extra support to trial a four-day week with part-time roles, in particular, being “less straightforward” to modify for a shorter working week.

Researchers said over three-quarters of the working-age adults questioned indicated that a 4 day working week would give them more time to spend with friends and family in addition to tackling stress and mental illness. 65 per cent said they expected to see improved productivity.

The Scottish branch of the Trade Unions Congress (STUC) is supportive of a four-day workweek, saying that cutting down on travel could boost the environment,

Rez Foyer - STUC general secretary - said, “Moving workers to a four-day week, without loss of pay, would bring a wide range of benefits; improving public health and wellbeing, redistributing caring responsibilities more equally between men and women, reducing carbon emissions from commuting, and boosting economic productivity.

“Crucially, this research shows it is popular with the Scottish public too.”

Source: The Big Issue

(Links via original reporting)

The Scottish government has been urged to expand its ongoing trial of a four day working week after research revealed overwhelming support for the project, The Big Issue reports.

Think tank IPPR Scotland learned that almost 90 per cent of working-age people in Scotland would be happy to take part in experiments to see whether reducing worker’s hours for the same pay could improve wellbeing and narrow gender divides.

The think tank polled 2,200 people and found 80 per cent of staff believe shortening the working week would have a positive impact on wellbeing, while 65 per cent think it would boost the economy.

IPPR Scotland senior research fellow Rachel Statham said trials must now be carried out in “all kinds of workplaces”, including non-office jobs, to provide a thorough test of how the idea works in practice.

“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, and could be a positive step towards building an economy hardwired for wellbeing,” Ms Statham said.

“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.

“So we must examine what shorter working time looks like from the perspective of shift workers, those working excessive hours to make ends meet, or those who currently have fewer hours than they would like to have. It’s time to turn our ambitions to build a Scotland better than before, into reality. That reality has to be a fairer, wellbeing economy in which everyone in Scotland can thrive.”

Nicola Sturgeon unveiled plans to trial a four-day working week after her re-election in May. The Scottish First Minister has announced a £10m fund to trial the concept, she said the government would “explore whether the changes in working practices brought about by the pandemic can improve wellbeing and productivity.”

So far, Orocco - an Edinburgh-based construction company - and Glasgow’s packaging supplier UPAC are among the businesses that have signed up to a trial while Masterchef finalist Dean Banks has also vowed to bring a four-day week to his Pompadour restaurant in Edinburgh from October. 

IPPR Scotland’s report, released on September 1, concluded that workers from across the economy will need to be included in the trial. However, the think tank noted that workers in lower-paid sectors might need extra support to trial a four-day week with part-time roles, in particular, being “less straightforward” to modify for a shorter working week.

Researchers said over three-quarters of the working-age adults questioned indicated that a 4 day working week would give them more time to spend with friends and family in addition to tackling stress and mental illness. 65 per cent said they expected to see improved productivity.

The Scottish branch of the Trade Unions Congress (STUC) is supportive of a four-day workweek, saying that cutting down on travel could boost the environment,

Rez Foyer - STUC general secretary - said, “Moving workers to a four-day week, without loss of pay, would bring a wide range of benefits; improving public health and wellbeing, redistributing caring responsibilities more equally between men and women, reducing carbon emissions from commuting, and boosting economic productivity.

“Crucially, this research shows it is popular with the Scottish public too.”

Source: The Big Issue

(Links via original reporting)