Business and charity leaders urge ministers to lead England’s transition to four-day week

<p>Open letter signed by more than 100 leaders comes after local government secretary criticised a council for switching to shorter week</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/oct/30/benefits-four-day-week-ever-clearer-despite-steve-reed-stance">Analysis: Benefits of a four-day week are ever clearer, despite Steve Reed’s stance</a></p></li></ul><p>More than 100 business and charity leaders have called on ministers to “lead the country’s transition toward a shorter working week”, after the local government secretary criticised a council for shifting to a four-day work pattern.</p><p>Steve Reed wrote to South Cambridgeshire district council, the first English council to trial a four-day week, raising concerns about performance and value for money, and expressing his “deep disappointment” over the policy.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/oct/30/business-and-charity-leaders-urge-ministers-to-lead-englands-transition-to-four-day-week">Continue reading...</a>