Reduce maximum weekly working hours to 32 & introduce statutory overtime pay

Open for signatures 126 signatures

What the petition asks

Amend the Working Time Regulations to reduce the legal maximum baseline working week to 32 hours from 48 hours, maintaining current pay levels (100:80:100 model). Make it a legal requirement that any hours worked beyond 32 hours a week be paid statutory overtime across all sectors.

A 40-hour work week can cause extreme burnout. UK trials by Cambridge/Salford universities proved that a four-day week model is an economic success: businesses saw a 35% revenue increase compared to a similar period from previous years, a 65% drop in sick days, and a 57% drop in turnover. Crucially, reducing the legal hour limit could ensure that 24/7 sector staff (like nurses) receive a vital pay rise through overtime for hours worked beyond 32. We need time back, not compressed hours. The data proves we can work smarter, not longer.

Timeline

3 Jun 2026

Petition opened for signatures

Key facts

Signatures 126

Status Open for signatures

Department Department for Business and Trade

Opened 3 Jun 2026

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