Four-day week could save millions

The government could save £21.4 million a year by allowing staff at the Defra environment, food and rural affairs department to work a four-day week, new research by the PCS public and commercial services union has found.

Defra statisticians interviewed more than 1,200 workers for the study and estimated that staff turnover would reduce by 57% annually, releasing funds to employ an additional 2,345 employees.

They also found sickness absence could drop by 65% from an average of 4.3 working days lost per employee each year to just 1.5 days.

“We’ve long argued the social, practical and professional benefits of a 4-day week, now this research shows the financial benefits, too,” said PCS general secretary Fran Heathcote.

“It also suggests that any opposition to employees working a four-day week is purely ideological. Why else would an employer stand in the way of progress?”