Versuchen GOLD - Frei

Minister warns councils against adopting four-day week for staff

The Guardian

|

December 24, 2025

Councils in England are being warned by the government against bringing in a four-day week for their staff, it was reported yesterday.

- Jamie Grierson

In a letter seen by the Daily Telegraph, Steve Reed, the local government secretary, said that officials doing "part-time work for full-time pay" could be an indicator of "failure" by a local authority.

Twenty-five councils are known to have discussed the merits of a four-day week and one, South Cambridgeshire, has already moved to the working pattern.

While councils are free to set their own policies, the government has the power to take control if an authority is deemed to be failing.

WEITERE GESCHICHTEN VON The Guardian

The Guardian

Trump puts Europe in a bind

On Sunday morning, a little more than 24 hours after the US attacked Caracas and special forces seized Venezuela's president, Nicolás Maduro, the European Commission posted on social media.

time to read

3 mins

January 08, 2026

The Guardian

The Guardian

US seizes Russian-flagged tanker in high-stakes Atlantic operation

Second vessel also said to be violating sanctions intercepted in Caribbean

time to read

4 mins

January 08, 2026

The Guardian

Guardian's Hope appeal raises more than £850,000

The Guardian’s Hope appeal has so far raised more than £850,000 thanks to generous support from readers for our five inspirational charity partners whose work aims to tackle division, racism and hatred.

time to read

2 mins

January 08, 2026

The Guardian

The Guardian

Serial rapists kept Met jobs after vetting failure

Serial rapists including David Carrick were left in the ranks of the Metropolitan police because of a failure to carry out necessary vetting on thousands of officers and staff.

time to read

3 mins

January 08, 2026

The Guardian

The Guardian

An 'empty' ship that is full of mystery

A massive, rusty crude oil tanker floating north through the Atlantic has become the centre of global interest after it was followed for days and eventually seized by US forces while Russia's military rushed towards it.

time to read

2 mins

January 08, 2026

The Guardian

The Guardian

Former first couple join list of well known inmates

After US military forces seized Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, in Caracas in a pre-dawn raid, they were ultimately spirited to one of the most infamous jails in the US: the Metropolitan Detention Centre in Brooklyn, New York.

time to read

3 mins

January 08, 2026

The Guardian

The Guardian

Stage review Sheridan Smith shines in a play that stands test of time

Susan is not the first woman battling inner demons in her middle years that Sheridan Smith has taken on for the West End stage.

time to read

2 mins

January 08, 2026

The Guardian

The Guardian

Berliners demand answers on blackout

When Silke Peters bought a crank radio and a camping stove just after the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, her husband thought she was \"a little crazy\".

time to read

2 mins

January 08, 2026

The Guardian

The Guardian

Reeves criticises Farage for benefit cap 'division'

Rachel Reeves said yesterday she was angered by Nigel Farage's suggestion that only British-born families should have the two-child benefit cap lifted and added that the Reform UK leader would keep children in poverty based on their skin colour.

time to read

3 mins

January 08, 2026

The Guardian

Teenager killed in Jerusalem at ultra-Orthodox Jewish protest

A mass ultra-Orthodox Jewish rally against military conscription turned deadly in Jerusalem on Tuesday when a teenager was crushed and killed after a bus hit the crowd.

time to read

1 mins

January 08, 2026

Listen

Translate

Share

-
+

Change font size