Lifestyle
Is it time to embrace the 4-day work week revolution?
If you're quietly ticking off the days until retirement brings you the elusive work-life balance we all dream of, here's some good news: you might not have to wait that long.
By Carolyn Tate
The concept of a 4-day work week is getting more attention in Australia, with about a third of workers expecting it will become the norm within the next 5 years. For those of us in the last decade or so of our careers, the sooner, the better – this shift can be a great opportunity for us to redefine our work-life balance at a time we need it most.
Recent research from the University of Queensland found there are significant benefits to more down time, including improved productivity (a win for the business) and enhanced wellbeing (a win for you, and for the business thanks to less downtime). With over three-quarters of employees reporting increased happiness under this arrangement, the 4-day work week is more than just a trend – it's a seriously sensible solution for all involved.
Benefits for more – ahem – mature workers
The transition to a 4-day work week is particularly beneficial for older workers, with research showing that more experienced professionals are especially good at maintaining or even improving their productivity, despite (or, indeed, because of) their reduced hours.
The University of Queensland's studies found that the less hectic schedule allows experienced workers to better leverage their expertise, leading to even more efficient work practices.
Australian research consistently links shorter work weeks to improved mental health outcomes and reduced stress levels for all workers. The 4 Day Week Global trial found that 68% of participants reported lower burnout levels, an important finding for older workers looking to sustain their careers while protecting their energy levels and wellbeing. This arrangement helps prevent exhaustion and promotes better work–recovery patterns.
Where is the push coming from?
There’s never been a better time to get on the 4-day work week bandwagon, with the movement gaining significant political traction of late. A Senate committee of Labor and Greens senators recommended a national trial of the "100:80:100" model in March 2023. This model proposes maintaining full pay while reducing work hours to 80%, with the expectation that productivity will remain the same. The Australian Greens have emerged as strong advocates, emphasising the potential for reduced burnout and improved work-life balance.
While the trial is yet to be taken up on a broader scale, some organisations have already embraced the 4-day work week. When Medibank trialled it in recent years, 96% of employees said they’d like to continue working this way, and the head of Medibank’s human resources department reported that sick days were reduced by two thirds.
Unilever has expanded its successful New Zealand trial to Australian operations, while media agency Claxon has permanently adopted the 4-day week. The ADP Research Institute reports that 11% of employers already offer 4-day arrangements to promote mental health, demonstrating growing corporate acceptance of this model.
Here’s who’s loving the work-life balance
New Zealand's Andrew Barnes has been a pioneer in the 4-day week movement, successfully implementing it at estate planning firm Perpetual Guardian. His observation that the beauty of the 4-day week is that it's an “employee benefit that doesn't cost you anything” has inspired organisations worldwide.
Aussie actor and musician Justine Clarke told The Guardian in a 2024 interview that attitudes toward work-life balance are changing in a good way: "It's a very chaotic, busy, kind of violent world out there, and you have to combat that by finding peace, finding stillness, being kind to yourself."
US Senator Bernie Sanders has long added his weight to the global movement, arguing before the US Senate as far back as 2010 for a reduced working week. Recently he claimed on his own website that technological advancements and the subsequent increase in productivity means the rich are getting richer but the working and middle classes are still working just as hard as they ever have.
“American workers are more than 400% more productive than they were in the 1940s,” he argues. “And yet, almost all of the economic gains from these technological achievements have been going straight to the top.”
How to negotiate for your own 4-day week
Ready to take your 4-day pitch to your boss? Your best bet is to leverage those Australian success stories and research data above. The 4 Day Week Global trial's impressive results – including a 36% average revenue increase and 42% reduction in resignations – provide great back-up for the model's viability.
If your boss is tempted but concerned about committing, it might help to propose a pilot period with clear, measurable outcomes. Include metrics for productivity, client satisfaction, and team wellbeing (including anecdotal reporting and metrics like sick days). This approach allows both the employer and the employees to evaluate the arrangement's effectiveness at minimal risk to everyone.
Lean into your track record and experience when you’re presenting your pitch, ensuring you have a detailed plan that addresses how you’ll handle potential challenges, demonstrates flexibility in implementation, and frames the arrangement as mutually beneficial.
Remember to keep our focus on what’s in it for your employer, and ensure they know the bottom line is never threatened.
If your employer says no
If you give it your best shot, and your employer still isn’t on board, you might like to try alternative approaches like a gradual transition, perhaps starting with one Friday off per month and gradually increasing frequency based on demonstrated success. They might also be open to exploring expanded hours, working the same hours over 4 days, as a stepping stone to a true 4-day week.
Or you might like to come back to the pitch during a traditionally quieter period for the business, such as in the Christmas-January period.
All the evidence points to the 4-day work week becoming a sustainable solution for the future of work, so why not get on board and make your final working years more relaxed and – dare we say it – fun?
With persistence and flexibility in negotiation, as well as a boss willing to give it a go, you can work towards a more balanced life now, rather than waiting for retirement.
Feature image: iStock/VioletaStoimenova
Alternatives to a 4-day week: