Wednesday 17 April 2024

Inventing Problems...

So, the suggestion of a four day working week is....guess what? Racist, according to Welsh Labour!

On the subject of 'equality risks', the report says there is a 'risk of widening existing inequalities between groups of workers i.e. office workers versus those on the frontline, particularly in 24/7 operations.'

Because those worker groups tend to be heavily weighted for ethnic minority staff. And this consultation outlined other supposed 'drawbacks':

Other risks included workers spending more money on leisure activities and heating while spending extra time away from work.

You couldn't make it up, could you? And you don't need to, the Welsh executive will make it up for you! 

Other drawbacks listed in the consultation, made with senior Welsh government civil servants and public sector chiefs, include the potential need to hire an additional 179 full-time equivalent staff to keep service levels up to standard.

Strange that that isn't considered a benefit, given how free they usually are with taxpayers' money. But this is clearly too bonkers even for Welsh Labour:

A Welsh government spokesman told The Telegraph: 'There are no plans to introduce a four-day week across the public sector in Wales.
'Whilst the working group identified a range of potential benefits, they also highlighted the many complexities involved in adopting a four-day week and the impact these could have on a range of groups and individuals.'

You'd think if they just asked a few members of the public they'd have got the same answer a lot quicker... 

4 comments:

John Tee said...

179 extra staff? But elsewhere it is claimed that a 4 day week increases productivity! If so, if they do the same hours in four days that they would have done in five, they should be able to get rid of some staff.

gonetomorrow said...

If four days is so much worse, expensive and racist surely all of the disadvantages could be reversed by going to a six-day week

Bucko said...

Racism might be a ridiculous excuse, but if it puts a stop to this ridiculous policy, so be it.
It's fun to see a loony left idea be hampered by a loony left idea

JuliaM said...

"If so, if they do the same hours in four days that they would have done in five, they should be able to get rid of some staff."

Heh! I like that idea!

"If four days is so much worse, expensive and racist surely all of the disadvantages could be reversed by going to a six-day week"

I'd like that one too, if not for the fact they'd have to be paid weekend rates.

"Racism might be a ridiculous excuse, but if it puts a stop to this ridiculous policy, so be it.
It's fun to see a loony left idea be hampered by a loony left idea"


It certainly is, isn't it?