Wales should make "serious moves" towards introducing a four-day working week to boost productivity, wellbeing and the economy, according to a Welsh Senedd Committee.
The committee was responding to a call for a four-day working week from by social entrepreneur Mark Hooper from Barry, who submitted a petition to the Senedd. The Petitions Committee looked at the idea in more detail and have recommended that the Welsh Government conducts pilots within the devolved public sector to reduce working hours with no loss of earnings for employees.
Wales has some of the longest working hours in Europe. Meanwhile, countries such as Iceland, Scotland, Ireland, Spain, Belgium, New Zealand and Japan are already making serious moves towards trialling or introducing new working patterns. The Welsh pilot should work with trials already held in the private sector and be impartially assessed to measure the economic, social and environmental impacts, the committee said
A group of companies have already trialled a four-day working week and reported increased revenue, with fewer employees taking time off or resigning. While it's been reported that most workers want a four-day week for same pay.
Jack Sargeant MS, Chair of the Senedd’s Petitions Committee, said: "It is a bold proposal but no more bold than those campaigners who fought for a five day week, paid holiday and sick pay which we now take for granted.
“People in Wales work some of the longest hours in Europe. Despite these long hours the UK lags behind on productivity, once we break that link of ‘hours worked equalling productivity’ we can start to look at a four-day week differently.
"Experiments are being conducted around the world – but we will have a much stronger knowledge of how they fit our circumstances here in Wales if we conduct our own trials. I hope the Welsh Government will consider our call for a modest experiment in our public sector, so that future debates on this subject will be more fully informed by evidence from Welsh people on the economic, social and environmental impacts of a four-day week."
Read more: Could a four-day week with no loss of pay make us healthier and just as productive?
Some of the arguments for a reduced working week claim it can boost productivity alongside well-being. Benefits for the environment and greater gender equality are also cited as arguments in favour. One hundred companies in the UK have already signed up to the idea.
The report will now be sent to Welsh Government for consideration. Meanwhile, Mr Hooper welcomed the report. He said: “This is a major step forward towards a world where we have a better relationship with work. Today, our lives are too often dominated by how we earn our living and that makes us more ill, sadder and ultimately less productive.”
Joe Ryle, Director of the 4 Day Week Campaign, said: “A four-day week with no loss of pay is a win-win for workers and employers so it's about time the Welsh Government backed a pilot in Wales.
“The 9-5, five-day working week is outdated, no longer fit for purpose and causing burnout for people working across the Welsh economy. Moving to a four-day week would give people the time to live happier and more fulfilled lives, whilst also improving productivity in the workplace.”
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