The government has officially cautioned local councils in England to drop any proposals for implementing four-day work weeks for their employees, as tensions rise over working practices in town halls.
The government’s recent guidance stated that local councils currently implementing four-day work weeks should discontinue the practice immediately. Any councils considering implementing this in the future should also halt any ongoing trials.
The instructions seem to be the most recent attack in a continuing argument between the government and South Cambridgeshire district council. It is believed that this council is the only one in England to have tried a four-day work week.
The council announced that their ongoing experiment, where both office workers and garbage collectors receive equal pay for working 20% less hours, has resulted in better recruitment and saved over £500,000 on temporary workers.
Advocates of the shortened work week argue that it benefits both employees and employers by promoting better health and higher efficiency. Businesses in the private sector have implemented this approach through trial periods.
The government is skeptical about the effectiveness of a four-day work week and fears that it may lead to a decrease in service quality. The guidelines hint at potential consequences from ministers in order to terminate this practice.
Council leaders across the country are expressing anger towards ministers for attempting to limit their ability to come up with local solutions. According to one source, the provided guidance is seen as an excessive intrusion by the central government.
It remains unclear if English local governments are interested in implementing a four-day work week. Last month, Norwich City Council announced plans to explore the possibility of a trial run. The Scottish government is also considering a pilot program for a four-day work week in the public sector later this year.
The government has clearly stated that they do not support implementing a four-day work week in the local government sector. Any local authorities considering this change should not move forward with it, and those who have already implemented it should discontinue the practice immediately.
He stated: “Councils who ignore this guidance have been warned that the government will take action in the next few months to put an end to this practice within local government.”
The instructions state: “Councils currently implementing a four-day work week should stop immediately, and others should not attempt to do so in any way. Prioritizing the best use of local taxpayers’ money is crucial, and local authorities should not devote any more attention to this issue. The department is also looking into other ways to make it clear that this working practice should not be pursued.”
Pete Marland, the chairman of the Local Government Association’s resources board, stated that over 90% of councils are facing challenges with hiring and keeping employees in various fields and positions.
Councils have the best understanding of what is most effective for their community, employees, and the overall job market. They should have the freedom to test out new and creative methods to tackle local issues and provide essential services to their citizens. It is up to the local voters to determine if council leaders have made wise decisions and provided value for the taxpayers in their area.
Source: theguardian.com
