Greens senator Barbara Pocock has announced a new election policy advocating for the establishment of a National Institute for a Four-Day Work Week, aimed at trialling a reduced work schedule. This proposal seeks to offer Australians an additional day off each week, while maintaining their full pay. Pocock believes such a change could lead to an increase in worker satisfaction, productivity, and well-being.
Highlighting international examples, Pocock noted that several countries, including Canada, Spain, Germany, the United States, and the United Kingdom, have successfully implemented similar models, yielding positive outcomes like higher productivity and decreased absenteeism. She emphasised that such measures particularly benefit working caregivers, many of whom are women.
Pocock pointed out that Australia was at the forefront of the eight-hour workday movement in 1856, but now risks falling behind global trends. She argued for a progressive shift towards reduced working hours, stressing that “it’s time workers had a better go.”
The proposed institute would undertake trials across various sectors to assess the impact of a four-day work week, including whether adjustments in hours are necessary for maintaining productivity. Pocock estimates that the initiative could operate with a modest annual budget of $10 million.
Furthermore, a Senate Inquiry recommended a similar trial for 2023, highlighting the government’s potential role in this evolving conversation about work-life balance. The suggested model for the four-day work week would involve a 100:80:100 approach, where employees receive 100% of their salary for working 80% of the hours with the expectation of achieving full productivity.
Pocock cited a recent trial by Medibank, where 500 employees experienced improvements in overall health and work-life balance during a four-day work week, showcasing its viability. Overall, the proposal aims to better align Australia with global practices, promoting happier and more productive workers by reconsidering traditional work structures.