Latest news with #fourDayWeek
BBC News
a day ago
- Business
- BBC News
Edinburgh council to look into giving workers four-day week
City of Edinburgh Council is to look into the possibilty of introducing a four day week for its employees. Councillors voted for a motion put forward by Claire Miller, who said the move could provide a new way to help with staffing and morale. The Scottish Green councillor told a full council meeting it would help fill empty roles and aid with poor health. Several councils in the UK have expressed interest in testing a four-day work week, with South Cambridgeshire District Council being the first to trial it. Officers will now prepare a report for the city council's finance and resources committee with information and data on recruitment, retention, productivity and health of workers. It will also explore the evidence from reduced or four-day week pilots, trials, and permanent models in relevant Miller said: "The four day week is a policy where our services remain as they are and there are no changes as far as the residents are concerned in terms of the opening hours provided to them."Studies into a four day week show productivity remains the same or in some cases can actually improve, and a great proportion of the working week is given back to people for their own responsibilities for rest and for leisure."A four day week is that rare unicorn policy, one where we can help our budgets but we would also be providing genuine benefits for our workers and through them to our residents." Scottish Conservative councillor Christopher Cowdy warned that the report needed to be "balanced and grounded". He said the council should be cautious in their interpretation from limited trials such as a Cambridgeshire pilot, and that Edinburgh residents should also be consulted.
RNZ News
19-05-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Could a four day work week be way of the future?
Elite online private school, Crimson Global Academy has trialled a four day week for all its online students in Term One. A survey of students and teachers has showed strong support for it, ditching the classroom on Day Five, so they are sticking with it. About 85 percent of students said they were able to stay on top of the work and about same percentage of teachers expressed optimism for the the long term benefits. Crimson Global Academy's Deputy Principal Ronan Kearney spoke to Lisa Owen. Tags: To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use.
CTV News
09-05-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Some Conestoga College campuses switching to four-day week for the summer semester
Conestoga College's campus on Frederick Street in Kitchener, Ont. was photographed on April 16, 2025. (Dan Lauckner/CTV News) Conestoga College says some of its campuses will be moving to a four-day week for its summer semester. The school did not explain what prompted the decision but touted the benefits to both students and the college. 'Student timetables have been developed so that our students are able to benefit, as much as possible, from four-day schedules,' they said in a statement emailed to CTV News. 'This initiative offers flexibility to students who may have summer jobs, creates operational efficiencies while our campuses are a little quieter over the summer months, and supports our sustainability measures.' Specifically, they cited a decrease in the use of air conditioning. 'Sustainability is a key priority for the college and reducing HVAC usage over the summer helps us meet our carbon reduction goals,' the school explained. Conestoga College did not make anyone available for an interview. A list of affected locations can be found below. Reaction to new international student rules The shorter weeks are just the latest move by Conestoga College after Ottawa placed new limits on international student enrollment in Canada. In December 2024, the school offered early retirement packages to 54 support staff and 106 faculty members. According to Vikki Poirier, president of OPSEU Local 238, all of them were over 50 years of age and had more than 10 of service at the college. Another 180 support workers were laid off or were reassigned on March 28. An internal memo, by Conestoga College president John Tibbits which was shared with CTV News, cited the federal government's decision to implement a cap on international student enrolment and other unnamed 'changes' that have created a perception that Canada 'is no longer a welcoming country for international education.' College surplus On the same day those layoffs were announced, the Ontario Sunshine List was released for 2024. It named the public sector workers making more than $100,000 a year. Tibbits had the highest public salary in the Region of Waterloo with a salary of $636,106.70 and $3,898.71 in taxable benefits. His income topped the regional chair, regional mayors, the presidents of the University of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier University, both the public and Catholic school board directors, the president and CEO of Grand River Hospital and the chief of Waterloo Regional Police. Conestoga College announced on March 13 it would be extending Tibbits' contract to Dec. 31, 2026. Last July, the school reported a surplus of $251,646,838. According to financial documents, that was nearly double its surplus of $106,220,863 in 2023. Campuses affected by closures Brantford 1 and 50 Wellington Street closed Mondays Cambridge Not affected Guelph (Speedvale Avenue) Not affected Guelph (Riverside Glen) Not affected Ingersoll Closed on Mondays Kitchener ATS Engineering Complex closed Mondays Transition Classroom Building closed Mondays Therapeutic Sciences Building closed Mondays Toyota Power Engineering Centre closed Fridays Downtown (49 Frederick Street) closed on Mondays Milton Parkhill Drive closed on Mondays Steeles Avenue closed on Mondays Stratford Not affected Waterloo Not affected More details can be found on the college's website.
