Political opponents of South Cambridgeshire District Council’s (SCDC) workplace policy have branded it “insulting” to taxpayers and claim staff are being used as “guinea pigs” to test it out.
Some of those living in the district believe the policy is unfair and discriminates against workers in other sectors, questioning the benefit to taxpayers.
People were broadly positive about the idea of a boost to the work-life balance when The i Paper visited Cambourne this week – and the majority echoed the same sentiment; if it hasn’t affected local services they “can’t see an argument against it”.
Peter Allerton and his Jack Russell, Rascal. He has not noticed any change since the four-day week scheme came into effect (Photo: Joe Duggan)The Government has vowed to work with town halls as part of a devolution revolution, after it recently dropped its opposition to the scheme, with Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner saying a four-day week is “no threat to the economy”.
Peter Allerton, 71, a retired commercial technician who lives in the village of Comberton, said SCDC’s trial has “been a success in one way, because we don’t really notice a difference”.
“As long as it’s not affecting the service. It’s the bin collections – if that’s happening regularly, and people are doing their jobs, then that’s really fine by me.”
Meetings were now shorter as the local authority is focused on making “every minute count”, she said.
“You’re not planning your shopping list or nipping off to a dentist. When you are at work, you are at work and you are working absolutely intensively.”
But Heather Williams, a Conservative councillor and leader of the Tory opposition at SCDC, criticised the lack of a consultation prior to the trial and claimed only a handful of Cabinet councillors voted on adopting it.
Cllr Dan Lentell believes the four-day week scheme run by South Camridgesire District Council is ‘massively unfair’ (Photo: Supplied)
“I think the scheme as a whole has been really insulting to hardworking residents that are paying their taxes,” Ms Williams said.
“It’s not the officers of the council who have chosen to do this. It’s a political decision that’s been taken, and they have been used as human guinea pigs.”
About 15 per cent more major planning application decisions were completed within the correct timescale, the study of 450 desk staff and refuse collectors found.
Sally Titmuss, 70,a retired teacher, said she has not noticed any difference to local services since the four-day week was brought in (Photo: Supplied)
But independent councillor Dan Lentell claimed the four-day week meant that taxpayers were effectively “subsidising” council staff.
“Every single time I need a question answered by the council, you get an inbox absolutely full of out of office emails. Are we getting value for money? Clearly not,” he said.
Businesses push to water down workers' rights law
Read More“How does it benefit the residents of Over and Willingham to be paying staff five days a week, and for 16 per cent of them to be saying, ‘we’re using that fifth day to get another job’,” Mr Lentell said.
Ian Rhodes-Elson, 57, a chartered surveyor who lives in neighbouring Huntingdon, said: “I don’t have any issue with it. If it provides a better work-life balance and staff are as productive as they were previously I can’t really see any harm.”
Ian Rhodes-Elson is in favour of the four-day week scheme (Photo: Joe Duggan)“Other than that I can’t say I’ve noticed any difference.”
But Christine, 70, said: “I used to work for the NHS – We did four 12-hour shifts. We wouldn’t get paid for an extra day off.”
“I don’t think it works. I think it would harm the country.”
Christine Lewis questioned if people would wonder if the scheme was fair (Photo: Joe Duggan)More than 200 UK companies employing 5,000 workers have moved to a four-day week model, 5000 workers, include charities, marketing, IT, consulting, PR and tech firms, according to the 4 Day Week Foundation.
“We’ve never said a four-day working week can come in overnight for everyone. It’s going to be a long transition to get there.
“It does look like that’s the future of work we’re headed for.”
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( The town run on a four-day working week )
Also on site :