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Could the UK introduce a four-day working week, and would it be economically feasible?

Analysis: What’s the argument for such a reform? How could it be implemented? And what would the impact be on the economy? Ben Chu explains

Friday 09 November 2018 15:42 GMT
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French lessons? France has a 35-hour working week, implemented in 2000
French lessons? France has a 35-hour working week, implemented in 2000

Labour, under Jeremy Corbyn, has been making encouraging noises about the idea of a four-day working week for some months now. And this week things seemed to move on a bit further for the opposition party as it was reported that the shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, has spoken to the cross-bench peer Lord Skidelsky about the possibility of an inquiry into the topic. But what’s the argument for such a reform? How could it be implemented? And what would the impact be on the economy?

Why would we want to move to a four-day week?

Many advocates cite greater work-life balance. Working one fewer day a week would free workers up to look after children, elderly parents or simply to have more leisure time.

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