Time for a Shorter Working Week

The Shorter Working Week campaign has been launched by the Telecoms and Financial Services Executive to secure a meaningful reduction in working hours for no loss of pay right across the sectors covered by T&FS.

Over the past couple of years, general interest in the idea of a shorter working week has increased. In this country, hundreds of employers have been experimenting with reducing hours for no loss of pay with positive results, including:

· Better work/life balance

· Lower levels of stress

· Lower staff turnover

· Greater workplace productivity

The CWU’s own member survey from early 2025 also supported this; CWU members in T&FS recognised employers, voiced overwhelming support for the idea. Members expressed the desire to use their extra time for leisure activities, caring responsibilities, or just getting some breathing space in their busy lives.

This is an ambitious campaign, but the idea is growing in profile and popularity and with the transformative impact it would have, it is undoubtedly something worth fighting for.

The main goal of this campaign is to deliver a Shorter Working Week in as many workplaces as possible. The first campaign phase will aim for trial runs of a reduction in working hours within recognised employers. Persuading employers to agree to a trial run is a key initial step and much of that persuasion will come from union members.

This can only be delivered with members’ backing and action, showing their employer how strongly they feel about this and encouraging colleagues to join CWU and get involved. Specific actions will be suggested at different stages of the campaign so please watch this space.