Workers in UK could get right to request four-day compressed week

Campaigners for a four-day working week have welcomed Labour’s proposals but say ‘reducing overall working hours is crucial’. Photograph: Victoria Jones/PA

Workers in the UK could be given the right to request a four-day working week under new government plans but would still need to clock in their usual contracted hours.

The education minister, Jacqui Smith, on Friday morning dismissed reports of businesses being forced to accept these demands but said workers could be given the option to work fewer days through “compressed hours”.