Completed petition We call on the Welsh Government to lead the way by supporting trials of a four-day week in Wales.
Moving to a four-day working week boosts productivity & workers’ wellbeing.
After successful trials of a shorter working week in Iceland – with no reduction in pay – governments in Scotland, Ireland & Spain are all devising their own four-day week pilots that are scheduled to begin next year. There's also serious moves towards a four-day week taking place in Belgium, New Zealand, Germany & Japan.
We call on the Welsh Government to lead the way by supporting trials of a four-day week in Wales.
More details
When Microsoft trialled a four-day week with no loss of pay in their Japan office, productivity went up by 40%. (https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2019/nov/04/microsoft-japan-four-day-work-week-productivity)
According to the Health & Safety Executive, 55% of all sick days taken last year were a direct result of work-related stress, depression or anxiety. Moving to a four-day week would dramatically reduce mental health issues in Wales.
A study by the environmental organisation Platform London found that the introduction of a four-day week with no loss of pay would shrink the UK’s carbon emissions by 127m tonnes, a reduction of more than 20%. (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/may/27/four-day-working-week-would-slash-uk-carbon-footprint-report)
Four-day week 'an overwhelming success' in Iceland https://www.bbc.com/news/business-57724779
This petition was considered by the Petitions Committee
Find out about the Petitions Committee’s discussion of this petition
The Senedd debated this topic
This topic was debated on 10 May 2023
The report of the Petitions Committee, ‘From Five to Four?’ was debated by the Senedd in Plenary on 10 May 2023.
Other Senedd business
Committee Report
The Petitions Committee published its report on Petition P-06-1247 Support trials of a four-day week in Wales on 24 January 2023: https://senedd.wales/media/4k2f3as5/cr-ld15618-e.pdf.
The Welsh Government response to the Committee report was published on 10 March 2023: https://senedd.wales/media/u31fwyzz/gen-ld15726-e.pdf.