Scotland to trial 4-day working week

[MyBadHabitsLeadToYou]

With no consequential pay reduction.

I couldn’t find a thread on this. Apologies if I have missed one.

I’m not sure what to make of this. I already work a four-day week (so that my four year old isn’t in full time nursery) and it’s a nice balance. But sometimes a bit stressful because my workload is heavy so it’s one less day in which to get things done. However, soooo many people are so overworked and stressed and it would be good for mental health etc.

But I’m not entirely clear on how this will work in practice e.g small private businesses. Twitter views are very mixed. How will it benefit retail staff etc, will it only benefit the office workers…

Just wondering what the consensus is.

For it to work, people have to feel more incentivised to get as much done in 4 days as they currently do in 5, but that only works if they are not working flat out just now.

@Whycangirlsbesonasty

But if they all work a 7 hour day and they work all day long, then you need 20 people to work 7 hours each day. If they are all working a 4 day week, you only have 16 people each day so you need to employ an extra 4 each day, and pay them.

So then you’d look at changing the timetable (in this mythical scenario) and they’d work a different pattern. So five-weekly bin collections instead of four-weekly.

So reduced service for the tax paying public?

Iceland, New Zealand, Spain and Japan have all already experimented with a four day week with positive results. I agree it lends itself better to some jobs than others though.

Google and Microsoft have trialled it in New Zealand and other places.

@Whycangirlsbesonasty

So reduced service for the tax paying public?

No, a slightly different service for the tax-paying public.

So it’s tax value you’re worried about now? Not that missed playtime for your kids that doesn’t exist?

I’m not pretending to be an expert here...

@SofiaMichelle

I’m not pretending to be an expert here...

Have you googled the Barnett formula now?

I went through school in edinburgh before the Friday lunchtime finish. My brother got it the second half of secondary. I worked in a big organisation as a childfree worker in edinburgh for ten years. My child is now nearly through primary.

On the whole I think the 4.5day week in edinburgh schools is great. I’ll admit it was shocking at first but when the whole city knows the score we make it work. So many parents take Friday afternoons off that those who do work get peace to get stuff done. Kids sports clubs happen, parents lift share, after school clubs pick up for those who can’t. My dd doesn’t usually go to Friday asc but loves it when she does (when I have to work).
Secondary kids get a bit of time with friends. Most we see here walk home very very slowly and have lunch in their way.
It’s been over 20 years now I think (or around 20) and I don’t know anyone who’d go back.

"It'll never work"

"It'll ruin businesses"

"Staff will take the piss and expect more money for less work"

"It's unworkable"

"Service will suffer"

Etc etc etc

People at the time said similar things about the equal pay act, the introduction of maternity pay, introduction of redundancy pay, the minimum wage, flexible working, paternity leave, shared parental leave, working from home, and pretty much every employee rights issue you can think of. Why are some people so afraid of changes to how things are currently done? 9-5 Monday to Friday is no longer the norm so why shouldn't employers explore new ways of working?

I hate the day Alan is cleaning. He makes the mirrors all smeary and doesn't leave smiley face messages for people to find like Jo does.

I think it's fair enough to try it. Why not?

I imagine for companies running more than 4 days a week they just have staff working the four days and employ more people to cover other days?

I don't see why people would be against this without even trying it or being open minded about it.

The problem is that they work 4 days but get paid for 5, so you have no money to pay anyone to cover the extra day. Fine if your employer can afford it, but many private companies can’t.

@Whycangirlsbesonasty

The problem is that they work 4 days but get paid for 5, so you have no money to pay anyone to cover the extra day. Fine if your employer can afford it, but many private companies can’t.

As has been said many times: it won’t work for everyone. But surely worth a go for the people it will work for?

Because we taxpayers pay for the public sector, it matters that are taxes aren’t spent on working practices that would be unaffordable in the real world.

I'm in scotland

I know some public sector employees asked for it and got refused so it will be interesting to see which employers

Very much doubt it will be key workers

It will be more hours crammed into less days

@Whycangirlsbesonasty

Because we taxpayers pay for the public sector, it matters that are taxes aren’t spent on working practices that would be unaffordable in the real world.

That happens all the time regardless though. How’s the Edinburgh library service doing just now? How’s the EAL provision in your kids’ Edinburgh school? How are the roads in Edinburgh? The street lights? The waiting lists to see a GP?

So why formalise inefficient working patters by paying people a 5 day wage for working 4 days? That’s crazy!

@Whycangirlsbesonasty

So why formalise inefficient working patters by paying people a 5 day wage for working 4 days? That’s crazy!

I don’t see how that relates to what I said - or indeed to any of the ridiculous scenarios you’ve posted on this thread. Why are you so reluctant to talk about your kids school now?

I don’t understand why you think private companies wouldn’t just say everyone’s off on Fridays? Then we don’t need Alan at all. Much more sensible. He’s a dick.

That’s what the whole policy is about though. Dave worked a 35 hour week and was paid £30k. Dave now works 28 hours a week and is still paid £30k. The only way this isn’t 25% more expensive for whoever pays Dave is if Dave was slacking off.

Jesus wept.

Is there no end to what The SNP will try to do to bribe the population into voting for independence.

It's completely and utterly unaffordable. Scotland is already subsidised by England due tho the Barnett formula.

I sincerely hope they do gain independence before they sink the entire UK.

Jesus wept.

Someone so entrenched in their ignorance they spout out myths that have been disproven time and time again like they're gospel. No doubt we'll get a nice spiel about the GERS figures soon too.

The GERS figures were the backbone of the SNP white paper! But now they can’t be trusted?

Some people are just so blinkered by the SNP cult they just cannot possibly be debated with. So blind to economic reality. Do some proper research fgs.

@Whycangirlsbesonasty

That’s what the whole policy is about though. Dave worked a 35 hour week and was paid £30k. Dave now works 28 hours a week and is still paid £30k. The only way this isn’t 25% more expensive for whoever pays Dave is if Dave was slacking off.

Define slacking off.

@Whycangirlsbesonasty

The GERS figures were the backbone of the SNP white paper! But now they can’t be trusted?

Some people are just so blinkered by the SNP cult they just cannot possibly be debated with. So blind to economic reality. Do some proper research fgs.

This is a bit fucking ironic from someone who emailed their kids’ school to check their hours weren’t illegal!