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

Background

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.

Additional details

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.

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