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Four-Day Work Week Proposal by UK Government Raises Issues, Says Econ Professor

Workers get the right to request a four-day workweek under a new proposal by the U.K. government. But a professor of economics at the University of Leeds argues "There remain problems, however" — starting with the fact that "under current laws, employers can still resist the requests of worker...

But a professor of economics at the University of Leeds argues " There remain problems, however" — starting with the fact that "under current laws, employers can still resist the requests of workers, if they want to." While workers in well-paid jobs have bargaining leverage to assert their legal rights, others in lower-paid jobs face minimal protection and risk direct exploitation... [A]dvancing the case for a four-day working week is likely to be more difficult if it is seen as benefiting only one section of society (one that already enjoys strong rights and privileges).... Another problem is the scope for compressed hours — working a five-day week of around 40 hours in four days. "If the government is serious about achieving a four-day working week to raise productivity and improve employee wellbeing, it needs to encourage trials in the public sector... "

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