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STV News
20-06-2025
- Business
- STV News
Edinburgh Council to explore trial of four-day work week for staff
Edinburgh Council is to explore running a trial of a four-day work week, following a successful study in an English council. After a decision by city councillors on Thursday, council officers will study four-day workweek trials in other parts of the country, and determine if and how a trial can be run in Edinburgh. They will also explore the state of recruitment, staff retention, productivity and health of council staff. Officers will present the report at a future meeting of the city's Finance and Resources Committee. Green councillor Claire Miller, who put forward the motion asking for a trial to be explored, said: 'When faced with the need for budget cuts every year, it's a joy to find a proposal which helps to save money while also being beneficial rather than detrimental. 'And the four day week is just that. The four day week is one where services remain as-is – there are no changes as far as residents are concerned, either in opening hours or what's provided – but our workers deliver in a reduced working week. 'Studies of four day weeks show that productivity remains the same, or in some cases even improves, when the number of hours worked is reduced down and a greater proportion of the week is given back to people for their other responsibilities, for rest and for leisure.' Cllr Miller's motion comes off the back of a 15-month four-day week trial for some staff at South Cambridgeshire District Council, which found it offered significant benefits. An academic study of the trial found that it reduced turnover by 39% and saved the council over £300,000 in agency worker fees. Additionally, it found that a range of council services either saw no change or improvements in delivery. Further, less council staff were found to be going on benefits. However, not all councillors held firm support for the motion. Conservative councillor Chris Cowdy said: 'At a time when our own council continues to face budgetary pressures, rising demand of core services and persistent performance issues, now may not be the time for a speculative experiment.' It was found that some council staff were working second jobs in their time off – however, most reported to the local authority that they had been doing so since before the trial. A spokesperson for Edinburgh Council said: 'As approved by full council, a report will be brought to a future Finance and Resources Committee. 'The report will examine this issue in more detail including reviewing evidence from other organisations.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Scotsman
20-06-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
Edinburgh council agrees to explore possibility of trialling four-day week for staff
Edinburgh Council is to explore running a trial of a four day week on the back of a successful study in an English council. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... After a decision by city councillors on Thursday, council officers will study four day working week trials in other parts of the country, and determine if and how a trial could be run in Edinburgh. They will also explore the state of recruitment, staff retention, productivity and health of council staff. The council is to explore trialling a four-day week for staff | Getty Images/iStockphoto Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Officers will present the report at a future meeting of the city's finance and resources committee. Green councillor Claire Miller, who put forward the motion asking for a trial to be explored, said: 'When faced with the need for budget cuts every year, it's a joy to find a proposal which helps to save money while also being beneficial rather than detrimental. 'And the four day week is just that. The four day week is one where services remain as-is – there are no changes as far as residents are concerned, either in opening hours or what's provided – but our workers deliver in a reduced working week. 'Studies of four day weeks show that productivity remains the same, or in some cases even improves, when the number of hours worked is reduced down and a greater proportion of the week is given back to people for their other responsibilities, for rest and for leisure.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Cllr Miller's motion comes off the back of a 15-month four day week trial for some staff at South Cambridgeshire District Council, which found it offered significant benefits. An academic study of the trial found that it reduced turnover by 39 per cent and saved the council over £300,000 in agency worker fees. Additionally, it found that a range of council services either saw no change or improvements in delivery. Further, less council staff were found to be going on benefits. However, not all councillors held firm support for the motion. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Conservative councillor Chris Cowdy said: 'At a time when our own council continues to face budgetary pressures, rising demand of core services and persistent performance issues, now may not be the time for a speculative experiment.'
Edinburgh Live
20-06-2025
- Business
- Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh Council to explore trial run of a four day workweek
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Edinburgh Council is to explore running a trial of a four day work week on the back of a successful study in an English council. After a decision by city councillors on Thursday, council officers will study four day workweek trials in other parts of the country, and determine if and how a trial can be run in Edinburgh. They will also explore the state of recruitment, staff retention, productivity and health of council staff. Officers will present the report at a future meeting of the city's Finance and Resources Committee. Green councillor Claire Miller, who put forward the motion asking for a trial to be explored, said: 'When faced with the need for budget cuts every year, it's a joy to find a proposal which helps to save money while also being beneficial rather than detrimental. 'And the four day week is just that. The four day week is one where services remain as-is – there are no changes as far as residents are concerned, either in opening hours or what's provided – but our workers deliver in a reduced working week. 'Studies of four day weeks show that productivity remains the same, or in some cases even improves, when the number of hours worked is reduced down and a greater proportion of the week is given back to people for their other responsibilities, for rest and for leisure.' Cllr Miller's motion comes off the back of a 15-month four day week trial for some staff at South Cambridgeshire District Council, which found it offered significant benefits. An academic study of the trial found that it reduced turnover by 39% and saved the council over £300,000 in agency worker fees. Additionally, it found that a range of council services either saw no change or improvements in delivery. Further, less council staff were found to be going on benefits. However, not all councillors held firm support for the motion. Conservative councillor Chris Cowdy said: "At a time when our own council continues to face budgetary pressures, rising demand of core services and persistent performance issues, now may not be the time for a speculative experiment." It was found that some council staff were working second jobs in their time off – however, most reported to the local authority that they had been doing so since before the trial. A spokesperson for Edinburgh Council said: 'As approved by full council, a report will be brought to a future Finance and Resources Committee. "The report will examine this issue in more detail including reviewing evidence from other organisations.'
Scottish Sun
20-06-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Council staff in major Scots city could soon be doing FOUR-DAY week
She said the proposed change to working arrangements could offer a new way to help staff morale WORK IN PROGRESS Council staff in major Scots city could soon be doing FOUR-DAY week Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) WORKERS in one of Scotland's cities could soon be working just four days a week. The proposals could soon be trialled by a council meaning thousands of staff could be the first in the country to work the revamped hours. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 The City of Edinburgh Council is exploring a proposal to offer staff a four-day week Credit: The Times Councillors in the capital passed a motion lodged by the Scottish Greens' Claire Miller. She said the proposed change to working arrangements could offer a new way to help staff morale. Cllr Miller claimed that "productivity remains the same or in some cases can actually improve" with a four-day working week. She also told a City of Edinburgh Council meeting it would also assist in filling empty roles and aid poor health, as reported by BBC Scotland. Officers will now prepare a report for the local authority's finance and resources committee. The document will include information on the health of staff, productivity, recruitment and retention. Council officers will also inspect the evidence from four-day week pilots or reduced workday practices elsewhere. Ms Miller said: "The four-day week is a policy where our services remain as they are and there are no changes as far as the residents are concerned in terms of the opening hours provided to them. "Studies into a four-day week show productivity remains the same or in some cases can actually improve, and a great proportion of the working week is given back to people for their own responsibilities for rest and for leisure. "A four-day week is that rare unicorn policy, one where we can help our budgets but we would also be providing genuine benefits for our workers and through them to our residents." Scottish Conservative councillor Christopher Cowdy said that the report must be "balanced and grounded". New sinister threat issued in ongoing Scotland gang war He added that the council should be wary in interpreting limited trials and that locals should also be consulted. A number of local authorities in the UK have shown interest in trialling a four-day working week. South Cambridgeshire District Council was the first to trial it.
Edinburgh Reporter
20-06-2025
- Business
- Edinburgh Reporter
Council agrees to trial a four day working week
After Thursday's meeting of the full council, councillors have agreed to consider moving to a four day week to improve the wellbeing of employees. Cllr Claire Miller who proposed the idea suggested it would also help to tackle overuse of agency workers, and boost the council's productivity. Supported overwhelmingly by the Green, SNP, Labour and Liberal Democrat council groups, officers have been instructed to prepare a report outlining how this innovative policy could be adopted for the capital. Cllr Miller said: 'When faced with the need for budget cuts every year, it's a joy to find a proposal which helps to save money while also being beneficial rather than detrimental. And the four day week is just that. 'The four day week is one where services remain as-is – there are no changes as far as residents are concerned, either in opening hours or what's provided – but our workers deliver in a reduced working week. Studies of four day weeks show that productivity remains the same, or in some cases even improves, when the number of hours worked is reduced down and a greater proportion of the week is given back to people for their other responsibilities, for rest and for leisure.' In a written deputation to the Council meeting, the Campaign Director of the 4 Day Week Campaign cited a trial undertaken by South Cambridgeshire District Council: 'The key takeaway from South Cambridgeshire's experience is that a well-structured four-day week can improve productivity, boost recruitment and wellbeing, and—crucially—save taxpayers money. With hundreds of companies across the UK already successfully adopting a four-day week, and the results of the Scottish Government's public sector pilot out next month, now is a great time for the council to embark on this journey.' Representatives from both Unite and Unison trades unions, who represent council staff, also spoke in favour of the motion and urged councillors to prioritise this long-held ask of workers' rights organisations. Like this: Like Related
