Labour’s four-day working week plan: What is it and are you eligible?

THE Labour Government have made a series of big announcements since they took office in July.

But the planned four-day working week has made headlines across the country. So how would a four day working week affect you?

What is Labour's four-day working week plan?

The four-day working week would allow employees to work their regular hours over four days instead of five.

This means that technically workers would not have more time off.

Instead, their days would be longer in exchange for the extra day off a week.

The plans are being spearheaded by Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner.

The director of the 4 Day Week Campaign, Joe Ryle, praised the plans but has suggested that they could go further.

He said: "These proposals would only allow workers to compress their working hours rather than reduce them which we have found is key for improving work-life balance and also maintaining productivity.

“Compressing the same amount of hours into four-days rather than five can be an important first step on the road to a true four-day week but reducing overall working hours is crucial.”

Who is eligible for the four-day working week plan?

Under the new laws, all businesses will have to offer flexible working from day one.

However, there is a caveat, as businesses can refuse a request for flexible working is it is not "reasonably feasible".

Also, the plans are more likely to benefit full-time workers than they will benefit people working on a shift basis.

What are the benefits of the four-day working week plan?

Education minister Baroness Jacqui Smith has said that the plans will help boost UK productivity.

Concentrating people's working hours will allow them to use their time in the office more productively and also give them more time off to rest.

If people are more rested, they are happier in their personal lives and more productive in their work lives.

People being more productive in their work lives will make UK businesses more productive, which Labour hopes will help them achieve their goal of increasing economic growth.

A sixth-month pilot of a four day working week was conducted in 2022 and 89% of the companies involved chose to make the new way of working permanent.

82% said it had a positive impact on staff wellbeing.

The four-day working week is part of Labour's New Deal for Working People, a set of pledges from the party to UK workers.

Outside of the four-day working week, the Government plan to ban zero-hour contracts, end "fire and rehire" practices and give workers the right to switch off.