That this House recognises that UK workers have some of the longest working hours in Europe, yet the UK’s productivity lags behind its G7 counterparts; further recognises that boosting productivity is a priority for the government’s “Five Missions for Britain”; notes that, according to a recent Mental Health First Aid England report, the five-day working week is hindering productivity and contributing to stress, burnout, and poor mental health, costing the UK economy £28 billion annually; further notes that trials of a four-day week, including in the UK, have found that shorter working hours with no loss of pay can significantly boost productivity, whilst also reducing workplace stress and burnout, and that a report by the Autonomy Institute and Alda shows that Iceland’s economy has outperformed most of Europe after adopting a shorter working week; is disappointed that the Employment Rights Bill does not include steps towards a four-day week with no loss of pay despite prior indications; welcomes the newly announced 1,000-person four-day week trial as an important step; calls on the Government to take further steps by introducing a far-reaching public sector pilot within local authorities across the UK, similar to the initiatives by the Scottish Government and South Cambridgeshire District Council; and further calls on the Government to provide local authorities with the necessary funding to implement this trial successfully.
