A DORSET MP objected when a proposal to allow employees to work a four-day week – but keep their full pay – was presented in the House of Commons.
The scheme, which would see the working week limited to 32 hours, was presented by Labour MP Peter Dowd, who said it was ‘time for change’ in the workplace.
Currently, the working week is limited to an ‘average’ – usually calculated over a 17-week period – of 48 hours.
However, most full-time employees work around 37 to 40 hours, based on a five-day week working eight hours each day.
But outlinging his plans, Mr Dowd said the movement for a shorter working week was “growing in strength”.
Mr Dowd’s bill also included a clause which would see anybody working more than 32 hours being paid an overtime rate of a time-and-a-half.
“All the evidence shows a four-day week with no loss of pay would be good for the economy, good for workers and good for the environment,” he told the Commons.
“It may seem counterintuitive that working fewer hours results in greater productivity, but there is already mounting evidence that proves the hypothesis,” he added.
“Wherever in the world a four-day week with no loss of pay has been trialled, it has been a win-win for both workers and employers. Productivity has improved, and so has the wellbeing of workers.”
However, Dorset MP Sir Christopher Chope, who represented Christchurch for the Conservatives, put on record his strong opposition to Mr Dowd’s bill.
He said: “Effectively, what he is saying (is) that everybody who is working more than 32 hours a week would be prevented from doing so in the future under the provisions of his bill.
“If ever one could think of a hand grenade being thrown into the economy, that is probably a really good example of it.”
Mr Chope said while Mr Dowd was entitled to bring forward his bill, as “everybody should have the right to bring in whatever bill they want to”, he wanted to put on record his strong opposition to “everything contained” in it.
The bill came as around 70 companies in the UK are currently trialling a four-day week, with more than 3,000 workers receiving full pay despite the drop in hours.
And at the halfway point, 86% of the companies taking part said they were likely to consider retaining the policy after the trial ended.
Last month (September), South Cambridgeshire District Council (SCDC) became the first UK local authority to move ahead with a four-day week pilot, again with no pay cut.
Before the trial began, leader of SCDC Cllr Bridget Smith, said: “The trial would be all about seeing if a four-day week has the same positive impact on productivity, staff wellbeing and recruitment in Local Government, as seen elsewhere.
“As a Council we are leading the way on this; it could be truly ground-breaking for local councils nationally.”