A four-day working week might sound like a dream, but for some businesses, it’s already a reality – and the pressure to make it the norm seems to be growing on the other side of the Tasman.
Now, Australia’s biggest union body is calling for the model to become the norm, reigniting debate across the ditch and prompting comparisons to New Zealand’s early trials.
The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) is leading the charge, saying a shorter work week without a pay cut can lead to higher productivity and a better quality of life.
“You get better performance. Workers are healthier. They’ve got a better life balance,” said ACTU president Michelle O’Neil.
But the proposal hasn’t landed well with everyone. Business groups are pushing back, questioning whether reduced hours are realistic without corresponding gains in productivity.
“Do you want a pay rise or do you want reduced working hours? They have to be based on the achievement of real productivity gains,” argued Andrew McKellar, CEO of the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Some Australian politicians, including the Greens, are backing the move – citing international and local examples where shorter weeks have delivered results.
“The trials that are underway in Australia and around the world tell us that you can be more productive with a shorter working week,” said Greens Senator Barbara Pocock.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is open to the discussion, but says it’s not yet government policy.
“There’s other measures that will feed into next year’s budget… there’s other things that could be for a future term of government,” he said.
And while the concept is gaining momentum, not everyone is convinced the timing is right.
“The smaller the economy, the more the Australian people will feel poor,” said Ted O’Brien, Australia’s Shadow Treasurer.
Some in NZ ahead of the curve
Here in Aotearoa, the idea is far from new.
In 2018, Perpetual Guardian made headlines as one of the first companies in the world to trial and later adopted a four-day working week. The results showed improved productivity, better staff wellbeing and higher engagement.
Since then, other New Zealand companies have experimented with different variations of flexible work. Mana Communications, a small PR agency, introduced a nine-day fortnight in 2020 and says the benefits have been tangible.
“It just gives you a day where you can do your shopping, do your laundry, do your life admin and still have a full weekend,” said managing director Caleb Hulme-Moir.
“I was able to do a course that I’ve always wanted to do on our Mondays off, something that I didn’t have time for previously,” added account executive Leilani Wright.
Both say they believe more businesses on both sides of the Tasman should give it a go.
“Absolutely think more businesses in Australia and New Zealand should take up this idea,” said Hulme-Moir.
“I think if we can do it, anyone can do it and just start with a nine-day fortnight and see the productivity grow,” added Wright.
As Australia’s unions ramp up the pressure, and trials continue to show positive outcomes, attention is once again turning to New Zealand’s workplace future and whether more companies here might soon make the switch.
The future of work might just start with an extra day off.
