Overview
4 Day Work Week in Australia
In August 2022, Australia initiated a significant shift in work culture by starting a pilot program for the four day work week. This trial, involving 20 companies, marked a pivotal change from the traditional five-day work schedule that most Australian employees were accustomed to.
This six-month trial saw employees working 80% of their typical hours while maintaining full pay, a revolutionary approach in Australia's work culture. A wide range of companies were included in the pilot, all the way from “finance to fashion.”
Orchestrated by 4 Day Week Global, a non-profit organization, this program is part of a broader initiative that also includes similar pilots in the UK and New Zealand, positioning Australia at the forefront of this global work revolution.
The outcomes of the Australasian 4 day work week pilot are compelling, demonstrating the potential impact of this initiative on the Australian workforce:
1. Trial Participants
- 26 companies participated in the trial, primarily located in Australasia, with participation from Europe and North America as well.
- Majority of the companies had 11-25 employees, with representation from various industries like Professional Services, Marketing/Advertising, and Manufacturing.
2. Business Outcomes
- Companies rated the overall impact of the 4-day week trial as 8.2/10.
- Attraction of new employees rated at 8.3/10 with the 4-day workweek.
- Productivity was rated at 7/10 and performance at 6.8/10.
- There was a 44.3% decrease in the number of sick and personal days taken per employee per month and an 8.6% decrease in average resignation rates.
- 95% of the companies wished to continue with the 4-day week model.
3. Employee Outcomes
- Employees rated the 4-day workweek trial as 9/10 with 96% wanting to continue.
- Over half (54%) reported an increase in their productivity compared to their lifetime best.
- Almost all participants (96%) reduced their worktime, with 88% getting one full additional day off per week.
4. Health and Well-being Outcomes
- 64% of employees experienced reductions in burnout and 38% felt less stressed with the 4-day workweek.
- Almost half of the workers reported a decline in negative emotions and an increase in positive emotions was reported by 62% of employees.
5. Work-life Balance Outcomes
- 65% of the employees were more satisfied with their time during the 4-day workweek.
- Conflict between work and family declined for 49% and 48% of employees respectively.
- Exercise frequency and duration rose for a significant proportion of the sample, and a significant number of men in heterosexual relationships increased their share of housework and childcare.
6. Environmental Outcomes
- Time spent commuting fell by 36 minutes per person per week during the trial.
- 42% of employees took up more environmentally friendly activities during the trial.
7. Future Prospects
- The trial results suggest a clear preference for the 4-day workweek model both from businesses and employees, showing promise for wider adoption in the future.
