LSA Launches Four-Day Working Week Pilot

Legal Services Agency is pleased to announce that we will be piloting a four-day working week. Beginning in October, the pilot will span six-months.

Our pilot means that full-time members of staff at Legal Services Agency will see their working hours reduced from 35 hours over five days, to 32 hours over four days, with no loss of pay. Part-time members of staff will experience the same reduction, pro rata.

This decision follows successful trials in both the private and public sectors.

In 2022, a six-month trial of the four-day week was run by non-profit 4 Day Week Global and think-tank Autonomy which involved 61 companies in the UK. The trial was deemed “a resounding success” , with 92% of the participating companies choosing to switch to the four-day week permanently.[1] In 2023, a similar pilot was conducted within South Cambridgeshire District Council, which too proved successful.[2] Since then, the Scottish Government has commenced its own pilot for 140 members of its staff.[3]

The four-day week has proven highly beneficial to both employee wellbeing and employer efficiency. Employees report reduced stress, improved work-life balance, and increased happiness. This, in turn, has a positive effect on productivity and quality of work.[4] Other ancillary benefits include improvement in the recruitment and retainment of employees.[5]

Legal Services Agency hopes that our pilot of the four-day working week will produce similar results, enhancing our ability to provide legal advice, assistance, and representation to those who need it the most, and ensuring the health and happiness of our dedicated staff.

Our CEO, Aaliya Seyal, has said:

“We are excited to embark on the journey of piloting a four-day working week. We are grateful to our Board of Directors for their continued support and vision, demonstrating our commitment to being a forward thinking organisation that values innovation and the well-being of our team.”

*Note that our opening hours to the public will not be affected by the pilot.

[1] Science Proves the 4-Day Workweek Prevents Burnout, Helps Productivity | Business Insider

[2] A public sector 4-day workweek trial had practically no drawbacks, researchers found | Business Insider

[3] Public sector workers in Scotland begin four-day working week trial | STV News

[4] How the four-day week model boosts employees’ happiness. | The Institute of Leadership

[5] 4-day work week firms are seeing a surge in job applications | CNBC