Chancellor Rishi Sunak has been urged to consider a four-day working week as a way to overhaul the economy in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
A letter, seen by The Independent, argues reducing working hours provide greater opportunities amid growing levels of unemployment.
The calls come after Jacinda Ardern, New Zealand’s prime minister, suggested employers could consider a four-day working week in response to the Covid-19 crisis, which she said would “certainly” boost the tourism industry.
The letter argues, “Shorter working time has been used throughout history as a way of responding to economic crises. They were used as a way of reducing unemployment during the Great Depression of the 1930s, which led to the normalisation of the eight-hour day and the 40-hour week.”
“A four-day week would bring multiple benefits to society, the environment, our democracy, and our economy (through increased productivity).”
“One of the biggest impacts would be better mental health and wellbeing across the board with more time available for socialising, family and community.”
“Three-quarters of UK workers already supported a four-day working week before the coronavirus pandemic hit and millions of workers have now had a taste of working remotely and on different hours. It’s in no one’s interests to return back to the pressure and stress that people were under before this pandemic.”
The letter to Mr Sunak concludes: “We’re urging your government to show the same commitment towards a better future for the UK by setting up a similar commission – looking at the range of options and models related to shorter working time which the UK could deploy.”
