The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER) has rejected a Fórsa claim seeking to pilot the four-day working week in the civil service.

The union claim was tabled in June following indications that a number of civil service departments were willing to test the viability of the four-day working week.

In their response to Fórsa, the Department cited cost, and a lack of clarity regarding productivity as reasons for refusal. This is despite extensive research to the contrary carried out by Four Day Week Global. 

In the letter the Department said: “There would be substantial costs associated with any move towards a four-day working week in the public service. It is not clear that increased productivity would be sufficient to offset that cost. This is of particular importance in the context of public facing and emergency services that must be provided on a seven-day basis where any reduction in core hours would result in a requirement to recruit significant additional staff. A detailed analysis of the costs would involve a considerable degree of complexity, given the number of employees and organisations encompassed within the public service. However, a very high-level assessment puts the approximate estimated cost at well over €4 billion per annum. This may be a conservative estimate, given the premiums associated with overtime and agency staffing, which would likely be required to ensure the same level of services could be delivered with reduced core hours”.

Fórsa official Seán Carabini said that DPER’s refusal to engage in a four-day week pilot was “disappointing in the extreme”.

“We understand that there are details to be ironed out. That is precisely why we sought the introduction of a pilot scheme. The DPER response is remarkably conservative and is filled with supposition. Where properly considered four-day working week schemes have been introduced internationally, they have brought about the joint benefit of increased productivity and a better work/life balance - a win-win. However, rather than engage with us on this and see if it is actually possible, they have rejected it outright based on what amounts to no more than a hunch. Civil service workers deserve more than that,” he said.

When asked about how it might work in the civil service, he noted: “It’s a case of horses for courses. If there was an area of the civil service where it suited, why would you prevent it? If it works, everybody wins. If it is proven unsuitable in a place, then don’t roll it out there.”

Seán urged DPER to “look at the bigger picture” and consider the benefits both to the worker and the employer when considering a four-day week.

“Fórsa is committed to playing its part in the delivery of world-class public services. To do that, we have to continue to be able to attract the widest talent pool. In order to stay competitive, the government should be a leader in HR policies. Instead, as their response shows, they can’t seem to get away from the old Victorian notion that ‘hours equal productivity’. To say I’m disappointed with their response would be an understatement,” he said.

Fórsa is considering their response to DPER’s position and members will be updated in due course.