The primary ever council trial of a four-day-week has been hailed as a hit, with common worker efficiency enhancing.

South Cambridgeshire District Council trialled a four-day week for desk-based employees for 3 months, starting in January of this 12 months.

Employees might take both Monday or Friday off, and their pay was not affected.

In keeping with the Bennett Institute for Public Coverage based mostly on the College of Cambridge, which analysed the outcomes, efficiency improved total – with important enchancment in some areas.

Consequently, an extension of the trial for an extra 12 months has been advisable to the council’s management, in addition to a three-month trial for employees within the services administration group and shared waste providers.

The additional trials will go to a vote on the subsequent full council assembly on Could 15.

Nina Jorden, analysis affiliate on the Bennett Institute for Public Coverage, mentioned that “not a single KPI fell to a regarding degree” through the trial.

“Performing 4 several types of rigorous information evaluation, 9 out of 16 efficiency measurements confirmed a major enchancment through the four-day week trial in comparison with the identical interval final 12 months, and that is regardless of some targets being raised internally,” she mentioned.

“General, we noticed an enchancment on common throughout efficiency measurements through the four-day week. It is very important emphasise that not a single KPI fell to a regarding degree through the trial.”

Joe Ryle, director of the 4 Day Week Marketing campaign, mentioned the trial “paves the best way” for different councils to comply with South Cambridgeshire’s lead.

“South Cambridgeshire’s historic trial has been an plain success and it paves the best way for different councils throughout the nation to comply with their lead,” he mentioned.

“All staff on this nation deserve a four-day week and so it’s solely honest that public sector staff profit too.

“The proof exhibits {that a} four-day week with no lack of pay improves productiveness and is a win-win for each staff and employers.”