Labour backs calls for four-day working week trial in public service

Labour Senator Annie Hoey has backed calls for a Four Day Week pilot to be rolled out in the Irish public service.

Senator Hoey said it is time “to have a national conversation on the gains that can be made by shifting to a four-day week.”

Senator Hoey said, “there is global evidence now that four-day weeks are good for workers and good for businesses’ bottom lines.”

“83% of organisations that took part in a recent pilot programme have agreed to keep the four-day week in place. Women report a significantly higher improvement in life satisfaction: an increase of 1.56 points and women also indicated that their sleep time increased by over one hour as a result.”

“All workers reported higher work-life and work-family balances including fewer sleep problems, higher job satisfaction and lower turnover intentions.”

The conversation surrounding the four-day working week and remote working arrangements have been brought into sharper focus following the Covid-19 pandemic, which was noted by Senator Hoey.

“The shift to flexible work overnight during Covid opened up the workplace to many women, people with disabilities, people with caring responsibilities, and a four-day work week can do the same.”

“We need to be brave in the face of changes to labour laws and workplace practices. We’ve seen the impact that global shifts can have in terms of widening the labour market base.”

Senator Hoey also noted the potential equaliser opportunities that could arise as a result of a four-day working week.

“A four-day week can go further in addressing the gender inequalities that remain in our workplaces. Right now, 30% of women workers are in part-time work, compared with just over 10% of men part-time workers. If we are serious about trying to challenge gender inequalities in the workplace and addressing the gender pay gap, a four-day working week must be seriously on the cards.”

“The world of work is rapidly changing and all the evidence suggests that we are ready for our next step in securing a better work-life balance for people – the introduction of a four-day week.”

In April of this year, the Spanish government earmarked around €10 million in funding to small and medium-sized businesses that were willing to trial the four-day working week, with the study to be carried out over two years.

A four-year study carried out in Iceland between 2015 and 2019 found that almost all of the 2,500 participants reported improvements to their work-life balance, productivity and well-being.