Question reference: S6W-03048
- Asked by: Tess White, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 16 September 2021
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Current status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 28 September 2021
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with businesses regarding the fund to support pilots of a four-day working week; how this funding will be used to support the pilots, and when it anticipates the first pilots will begin.
Answer
The Scottish Government has committed to establishing a £10 million fund to allow companies to pilot and explore the benefits of a 4 day working week. The pilot will allow us to develop a better understanding of the implications of a broader shift to a 4 day working week across the economy, and aims to represent a broad cross-section of businesses and organisations spanning the Scottish economy, including those who would find the move to a four day work week more challenging.
There has been extensive engagement with individual businesses registering an interest in participating in the pilot and with business representative organisations. Discussions have also taken place with academic experts and organisations regarding the promotion of flexible working. All this engagement is currently informing the careful and rigorous design of the pilot and it is anticipated that a timetable for implementation will be announced later this year.