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The Guardian

English councils free to adopt four-day week after government drops concerns

English councils free to adopt four-day week after government drops concerns



Cambridgeshire trial found workers’ performance improved and staff turnover fell, while London Underground also plans to introduce four-day week optionCouncils in England will have the right to adopt a four-day working week after the government dropped concerns raised by the Conservatives when they were in power.For more than a year, South Cambridgeshire district council has defied Conservative opposition to its policy to introduce a four-day working week, after a controversial 15-month trial indicated in March that the performance of its workers mostly improved or remained the same, while the council simultaneously saved more than £370,000 in a year.Staff turnover fell by 39%, helping save £371,500 in a year, mostly on agency staff costs.Regular household planning applications were decided about a week and a half earlier.Approximately 15% more major planning application decisions were completed within the correct timescale.The time taken to process changes to housing benefit and council tax benefit claims fell. Continue reading…



Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/business/2024/nov/09/english-councils-free-to-adopt-four-day-week-after-government-drops-concerns

Author : Donna Ferguson

Publish date : 2024-11-09 10:28:51

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Tags : The Guardian

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