South Cambridgeshire District Council has approved a trial of a four-day working week for 150 refuse loaders and drivers, marking one of the first such experiments for frontline public sector workers in the UK. The trial, scheduled for this summer, will also include workers who investigate fly-tipping, undertake dredging, and serve as council caretakers.
Under the 32-hour working week, pay will remain the same, and the council has assured residents that service levels will be maintained or improved. The trial is expected to cost an additional £339,000 over two years due to the need for extra staff and new lorries, but savings are anticipated from reduced reliance on agency staff.
Joe Ryle, director of the 4 Day Week Campaign, welcomed the move, stating, “It’s only fair that public-sector workers and those in non-office jobs benefit too.” The trial follows the world’s largest four-day week pilot in the UK, where 56 of 61 participating companies continued the arrangement, with 18 making it permanent.
Council leader Bridget Smith said bin routes had been rationalised to reduce wasted time, adding that “everybody will be working more intensely and productively.” The GMB trade union, representing refuse workers, expressed cautious optimism while monitoring for any equality issues or detriment to terms and conditions.
