Under government proposals to expand flexible working, employees might have the ability to request that their companies work a four-day workweek.

Although their contracted hours may be compressed into a shorter workweek, employees would still need to work their full shift in order to be paid in full.

Businesses were "petrified" of the measures, according to Conservative shadow business secretary Kevin Hollinrake.

However, ministers insist they will not impose the change on staff or businesses.

"Any changes to employment legislation will be consulted on, working in partnership with business," said a spokesperson at the Department for Business and Trade.

They added that the plan for more flexible working was instead designed to increase productivity and help get more people back into work.

Currently, employees have the right to request flexible working but employers are only required to deal with requests in a "reasonable manner".

Labour came to power earlier this year promising to make it the default from day one for all workers, except where it was not feasible.

As first reported by the Daily Telegraph, that could allow staff to work four longer days instead of five.

Details are expected in the autumn when a law to create a new package of workers' rights is expected to begin its journey through Parliament.

"Despite warning after warning from industry, [Deputy Prime Minister] Angela Rayner is pressing ahead with her French-style union laws that will make doing business more expensive in the UK," Mr Hollinrake said.