Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 5:40 pm on 22 September 2021.
Well, I am glad to hear that there are some businesses that are looking to go down this route, but the reality is that not all businesses are offering the exact same sort of benefits. It is incumbent, I think, on Government to mandate a four-day work week.
In many ways, as well, and I will reference something that was discussed earlier—I can't remember which of my Conservative colleagues raised it—. I have heard the arguments, of course, that a four-day work week won't work, but I also think that it is incumbent on the Conservative benches to prove to us that the current system is working. Because the reality is that it's not working at all. We have to start thinking about ways forward that will help those in society who are facing burnout, just like postal workers, as Carolyn Thomas mentioned, but also people such as myself, who worked in the hospitality sector.
Of course, there was reference to the care sector and the struggles that they have in terms of recruiting new workers. I think that it was Gareth Davies who raised this. I would argue that, actually—and I'm sure that I have heard this multiple times in this Chamber—the reason they are struggling to recruit new carers is because of the work-life balance issues within the care sector, and burnout. Something like this will address that.