Public sector one step closer to four-day working week after ‘overwhelmingly positive’ trial
What happened next after two firms introduced four-day working week
- A year-long trial of a four-day working week in two Scottish public sector bodies, Accountant in Bankruptcy (AiB) and South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE), has yielded overwhelmingly positive results.
- Workers at AiB and SOSE switched to a 32-hour week with no reduction in pay or benefits, leading to less work-related stress, greater job satisfaction, and improved work-life balance for almost all participants.
- The trial, coordinated by the Autonomy Institute and commissioned by the Scottish government, demonstrated improved morale and motivation, with 98 per cent of SOSE workers reporting positive changes.
- Both participating organisations have opted to extend the pilot beyond the initial trial period, maintaining service levels by staggering staff days off.
- While the Scottish government will not implement a wider rollout at this time, the success follows South Cambridgeshire District Council becoming the first UK local authority to permanently adopt a four-day week, reporting increased job applicants and significant cost savings.