Scottish Election 2021: Parties urged to back four-day working week

An organisation that switched to a four-day week for its staff has called for all Holyrood parties to back the initiative as it revealed that absenteeism has dropped by 75 per cent since introducing the measure.

Advice Direct Scotland introduced the measure for its own staff in 2018, meaning employees receive the same pay, but work for a day less each week. It says the move has widespread public support and has been demonstrated to improve productivity and staff morale.

The organisation, which offers consumer advice, said all parties should include the introduction of a four-day working week in their manifestos ahead of next month’s election.

A report last year revealed 70 per cent backed a four-day week, with only 8 per cent saying they opposed or strongly opposed the idea.

Advice Direct Scotland has called for a four day working week.

Nicola Sturgeon last year urged employers to consider moving to a four-day week as part of the post-lockdown economy. 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.

All parties contesting next month’s Scottish Parliament elections are expected to publish their manifestos in the next fortnight.

Andrew Bartlett, chief executive of Advice Direct Scotland, said: “The four-day week has been shown to work in the places where it has been tried and the idea has strong public support in Scotland. It is well established in productive and efficient economies like Norway and Denmark and looks set to be introduced in New Zealand too.

“This isn’t about businesses just giving staff a free day off each week. We know from our own experience that staff are far happier and more productive as a result of the four-day week, and that absenteeism has fallen significantly.”

He added: “There is much to be gained for businesses which adopt a four-day week.

"For those which can make it work, they will soon find the positives far outweigh any negatives. By including this in their manifestos ahead of the May vote, Scotland’s political parties can send a very strong message to businesses of all sizes about the value of this approach.”

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