South Cambridgeshire Council Makes Four-Day Work Week Permanent Despite Criticism
South Cambridgeshire Council, led by the Liberal Democrats, has decided to make the trial four-day work week a permanent policy. The move has sparked outrage among critics, with concerns raised about the impact on work output and resident satisfaction. Despite the mixed feedback, the council voted in favor of the decision, leading to a heated debate among members.
A LibDem-run council, South Cambridgeshire Council, has decided to make a trial four-day work week permanent, despite facing criticism. Staff had been on a trial four-day week since January 2023, and now it will be a permanent arrangement. The decision was supported by 26 councillors, while nine opposed it, citing concerns about taxpayers' money being used for an extra day off. Under the four-day week, staff work one day less but receive the same pay, with the expectation to complete all tasks within that timeframe.
A report by the council highlighted a decrease in work output in areas such as housing rent collection and tenant satisfaction during the trial period. A residents' survey also showed lower satisfaction ratings on services like bin collections, climate and environment, and council tax. The Taxpayers' Alliance criticized the decision, stating that local taxpayers would be unhappy with the move.
Council leader Bridget Smith defended the decision, stating that the trial had exceeded expectations and emphasized the importance of working smarter, not longer. However, opposition members raised concerns about the fairness of the system. Despite the criticism, the council is moving forward with the four-day work week as a permanent arrangement.
According to the source: Daily Express.
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