Australia Explores Four-Day Workweek Trial for Civil Servants

Australia is considering the “work time reduction” approach to its four-day workweek trials, which means fewer work hours per week without a cut in pay.

Australia’s Capital Territory Government (ACT) is considering trials of a four-day workweek for civil servants. This effort, as reported by HRM Asia, aims to reduce workloads without compromising pay or conditions and reflects a growing global interest in redefining traditional work structures.

The ACT government’s exploration into a four-day workweek is a response to increasing demands for better work-life balance and the recognition of the potential benefits this model can offer. It’s reported by HRM Asia that unlike the “work time compression” model, which attempts to fill the same number of work hours into fewer days, the ACT is focusing on a “work time reduction” approach. This means employees would work fewer hours without a cut in pay — addressing some concerns raised about worker wellbeing and gender equality in the workplace.

From an organizational perspective, preliminary findings have already been promising. Medibank’s trial with the reduction method showed that 95% of organizations favored the reduced schedule, citing maintained productivity levels and decreased stress among workers.

As more organizations and governments experiment with and adopt this model, it could help normalize a transformation in how we view and structure work. The potential benefits — improved employee wellbeing, sustained productivity, and a more inclusive work environment — make a compelling case for this trend to continue and expand.

Australia’s consideration of a four-day workweek for civil servants is a notable trial in the four-day work week trend. As trials commence and results are analyzed, the success of the model could help set a precedent, influencing corporate work cultures around the world.