Employees would still need to put in their whole workweek, but it would be compressed into a shorter working week in order to receive their full pay—something that some companies already do.
Currently, the Labour administration seeks to mandate that firms provide flexible hours from the start, unless it is “not reasonably feasible.”
The move is reportedly being spearheaded by Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, who plans to submit legislation this autumn following consultations with employers and unions.
The government has refuted reports that firms will be compelled to provide workers with four days off or force them to work a four-day workweek.
Kevin Hollinrake, the opposition business secretary for the Conservative Party, claimed that the measures had “petrified” firms.
Mr. Hollinrake stated that Angela Rayner is pushing through her French-style union laws, which will increase the cost of conducting business in the UK, in spite of warning after warning from industry.
Charlie Thompson, a partner in the legal practice Stewarts, stated to News: What this ‘new’ regulation will entail is unclear at this point because UK employees currently have the freedom to seek flexible working arrangements, which includes demanding a four-day workweek.
One option is for the government to make it harder for companies to turn down requests of this nature, as it is currently rather simple for them to do so.
