Huge success for Australasian 4 day week pilot, new research reveals
Results of an Australasian pilot programme, run by non-profit 4 Day Week Global, reveal the vast majority of companies prefer working a 4 day week where they get 100% of the pay, for 80% of the time, in exchange for 100% of the output. The six-month trial of a 4 day week, which 26 organisations embarked on last August, found that 95% of organisations favour the reduced schedule.
Results of an Australasian pilot programme, run by non-profit 4 Day Week Global, reveal the vast majority of companies prefer working a 4 day week where they get 100% of the pay, for 80% of the time, in exchange for 100% of the output. The six-month trial of a 4 day week, which 26 organisations embarked on last August, found that 95% of organisations favour the reduced schedule.
On a scale of 1-10, companies rated the overall trial an 8.2, reporting great satisfaction with business productivity, performance, and ability to attract employees. They also observed a 44% average reduction in absenteeism and 9% reduction in resignations over the course of the pilot.
Employee outcomes were similarly positive, with 96% wanting to continue their 4 day week post-trial. When asked much additional pay they’d require in their next job to go back to five days, over one in three said between 26-50% more, with over one in ten stating no amount of money would induce them to go back.
Promising gender equality and environmental findings were also observed, with commuting time falling by 36 minutes per person per week, and men in heterosexual relationships increasing their share of housework and childcare.
Lead researcher on the programme, Professor Juliet Schor of Boston College said: “The 4 day week has a remarkable capacity to improve employee well-being and social outcomes. Almost two thirds of employees experienced reductions in burnout, while 38% felt less stressed during the trial. People were exercising more, getting better sleep and generally more satisfied with their time.”
General manager at Australian-based company, RentWest Solutions, Michelle Rigg said: “After previously trying to introduce the 4 day week ourselves and failing, we decided to sign up for 4 Day Week Global’s pilot programme. The learnings we received in preparation for the trial were integral to it being a success.
“Our key indicator was our customer experience. Throughout the trial, we had several check points to assess this and although we tried, we found no change to the customer experience – in most cases it had improved. We also conducted several check-ins with the team and at the end of the trial, it was an overwhelming yes to continuing.”
Founder of New Zealand-based company, Brevity Ltd, Matt Bishop said: “As an innovative firm that values productivity optimization and advanced technologies, Brevity Ltd recognises the importance of maximising efficiency. Motivated by the prospect of an additional day off each week, our team proactively prioritised tasks, enhanced processes, and managed their energy more effectively. This heightened focus resulted in increased productivity beyond what we achieve during a typical work week, surpassing client expectations. Moreover, the extra day off provided our team with renewed energy for the following week's productivity drive.
“Brevity Ltd takes pride in being at the forefront of this progressive work model, serving as an industry example and reaffirming our commitment to the success and well-being of our team.”
Entrepreneur and co-founder of 4 Day Week Global, Andrew Barnes said: “These results are a real full-circle moment, as 4 Day Week Global was founded after the success of a similar pilot in my company in New Zealand, Perpetual Guardian, in 2018. It brings me great joy that other businesses in Australasia have discovered the benefits of a 4 day week and I’m glad to announce recruitment for our new trial is now open.”
4 Day Week Global is today launching recruitment for its second Australasian pilot programme. Participants are taught how to redesign their workdays, optimise efficiencies, and reform culture. They gain access to all necessary resources for a successful transition, while their experience is tracked by a team of world-class academics. The non-profit is hosting a series of free online information sessions about the pilot in the coming weeks.
For more information or to arrange interviews, contact media@4dayweek.com
Click here to download the 2023 Australasia pilot program report
The following companies took part and have agreed to be named publicly:
Australia
New Zealand
Elsewhere
Click here to learn more about our pilot programs
Click here to register for a pilot program information session
Over 30 companies move to a four-day week across Australia and New Zealand
A new four-day week pilot is underway, as over 30 companies and almost 1000 workers across Australia and New Zealand get an extra day per week back with no loss of pay. The six-month coordinated trial, run by non-profit 4 Day Week Global, operates off the 100-80-100™ model where workers get 100% of the pay for 80% of the time, in exchange for a commitment to maintaining at least 100% of the output.
Press release
Monday, 1st August 2022
A new four-day week pilot is underway, as over 30 companies and almost 1000 workers across Australia and New Zealand get an extra day per week back with no loss of pay. The six-month coordinated trial, run by non-profit 4 Day Week Global, operates off the 100-80-100™ model where workers get 100% of the pay for 80% of the time, in exchange for a commitment to maintaining at least 100% of the output.
Participating companies operate across a diverse range of industries, offering services in the manufacturing, fashion, healthcare, real estate, finance, technology, education and PR sectors, to name but a few. They include:
Australia
● ABA Advice Beyond Accounting
● Ink+Iris
New Zealand
● BVT Engineering Professional Services
The trial will be followed by a team of researchers at Boston College, the University of Queensland and the University of Sydney, who work with each company to define and establish their research baseline and relevant productivity metrics for the trial. The economic, social and ecological impact of the four-day week is also monitored throughout, assessing productivity, employee wellbeing, and gender and environmental impacts.
This pilot is part of a series of international programs, with others already underway in the UK, US, Canada and Ireland, with many more planned in the coming months.
Suzanne Brown, Director at Perth-based real estate company, Rentwest said: “My two passions in running a business are the employee experience and the client experience. I’ve learnt that if you get the employee experience right, then the customer will ultimately benefit also.
“By giving our team one more day off per week, we believe they will turn up on the four workdays more engaged, more energised and more productive. We have already seen team engagement enhance significantly, simply due to the excitement of planning this trial.
“Right now, Rentwest happens to be an all-female office. 60% of the team are working mums – we’re raising 34 children and many fur babies between us. Other team members are juggling caring responsibilities for aging parents and trying to fit in other volunteering commitments.
“I’d like to see this trial be a success and adopted permanently, as it will allow us all to take the time to care for our loved ones while also giving a little extra time for ourselves in the working week.”
Maygan Holland, Director at New Zealand-based consultant engineering firm, Cook Costello Limited said: “At Cook Costello we are re-engineering our work week. We believe collaboration of teams and creating time efficiencies using all available resources are crucial components in ensuring a sustainable working environment.
“The four-day week has the potential to be an important tool for Cook Costello in supporting our people to have time for what is important in their lives. We are excited to be part of this trial and to see what difference it makes to the way we work.
“Unfortunately, the pre-Covid challenges remain, where the global shortage of suitable people-resources puts teams and projects under pressure. However, the lockdowns did compel us to focus on just what was productive work and what were our team’s priorities.
“At Cook Costello, we have been bringing innovation to the technical elements of consultant engineering for more than 45 years. Now we’re experimenting with operational innovation as well.”
Andrew Barnes, Entrepreneur and 4 Day Week Global Founder said: “When I had the idea to trial a four-day week at my company in New Zealand, Perpetual Guardian, I never could have imagined what was going to come of it. Now, four years later, after helping hundreds of companies and thousands of workers make the transition, all while hitting countless global headlines, we’re finally launching a pilot program back where it all began.
“We’ve already proven that success is possible and I’m very much looking forward to strengthening the evidence in favour of a four-day week with the positive outcomes this pilot is sure to produce.”
Charlotte Lockhart, 4 Day Week Global Founder and Managing Director said: “From business productivity gains to strengthened recruitment and retention; From reduced stress levels to improved work/life balance; From environmental sustainability to gender equality; The benefits of a four-day week are innumerous.
“We’re certain that this new way of working will soon become the new normal and once that happens, these pioneering companies participating in our pilot will be remembered and thanked for paving the way towards a better life.”
Professor John Quiggin, School of Economics, University of Queensland said: “Although there have already been preliminary trials with promising results, we don’t have enough evidence to say what works, what doesn’t and how workers and businesses will deal with a four-day week. This pilot is part of a series of experiments in different countries assessed on a consistent basis by leading academic researchers.
“In analysing the results, I will be particularly interested in two questions. First, how do responses differ in relation to gender and family responsibilities? And second, will the working arrangements gravitate towards a 4/3 structure, with one day (Monday or Friday) off, a core 3-day Tuesday-Thursday week, with reduced staffing on Mondays and Fridays, or remain similar to the current 5/2 structure, with flexible days off spread across the week?”
20 companies to switch to a 4 day work week across Australia and New Zealand
Ahead of this week’s federal election, described by one major news outlet as the “don’t-talk-about-climate-change election”, 20 companies in Australia and New Zealand are taking matters into their own hands by embarking on a climate-friendly four-day week.
Ahead of this week’s Australian federal election, described by one major news outlet as the “don’t-talk-about-climate-change election”, 20 companies in Australia and New Zealand are taking matters into their own hands by embarking on a climate-friendly 4 day week. The organisations will kick off a six-month reduced working time pilot in August, with the Australasian trial, run by 4 Day Week Global, giving employees an extra day off per week with no loss of pay. This is based on the 100:80:100™ model where workers get 100% of the pay for 80% of the time, in exchange for a commitment to maintain at least 100% productivity.
A key benefit of the 4 day week is that it is better for the environment, as 4 Day Week Global research partner Professor Juliet Schor explained in her recent TED talk. The principle of giving all staff a weekly day off – whether the same day for everyone or staggered across the workforce – is that it cuts overall company commuting by 20 percent, and correspondingly reduces energy expenditure in the workplace, resulting in a lowered carbon footprint for any business operating on a 4 day week.
The pioneering organisations preparing for the trial provide services across a diverse range of industries, from finance to fashion. They include:
· Technology firm Our Community;
· Marketing and communications agency The Walk;
· Education and business consultancy Haemata Limited;
· Finance company More Than Mortgages;
· Health and well-being organisation Momentum Mental Health;
· And others in the technology, healthcare, construction and retail sectors.
These organisations moved to embrace reduced-hour, productivity-focused working after attending a series of online information sessions hosted by 4 Day Week Global. Many others are expected to make the move this year. Participating companies will have access to a package of support offered through the pilot programme, including workshops delivered by international 4 day week experts and pioneers, mentoring by 4 day week business leaders, networking with other pilot companies and access to world-class academic research. The pilot will be followed by researchers at Auckland University of Technology, University of Queensland, University of Sydney and Boston College.
The Australian social entrepreneurship body Our Community is among the companies embarking on the trial in August. It creates and disseminates practical, affordable training, leadership and technological solutions that allow not-for-profit and grant-making organisations to get on with the crucial work of building stronger communities.
Our Community CEO Denis Moriarty says, “Our Community has been a traditional office-based company and with what we have learned in the past two years, we are now in a position to implement changes, trust employees to maintain productivity and make sure work-life balance is supported. Most of all, we are responding to the shift we are seeing with employees having more of a voice about what they want work to look like in the future.
“Companies cannot grow, achieve social impact or reach amazing valuations and new heights without their staff. It's time we as leaders find ways to return some of this investment to them, not just in wages, bonuses and equity, but with time, so they can use the rest of those things to build a life they love.”
Andrew Barnes, the entrepreneur who conceived the 4 day week and went on to establish 4 Day Week Global, says the climate crisis cannot be solved without a revolutionary, global change in how people work. “We recognised well before the pandemic that the five-day week is no longer fit for purpose, and as we trialed and studied the 4 day week it became clear that this is a necessary part of the solution to restore climate balance, among many other documented benefits. We simply cannot go on as we have been, and we welcome the forward-thinking companies and business leaders in Australasia who are driving this change and showing the path forward.”
Charlotte Lockhart, managing director and founder of 4 Day Week Global, highlighted the significance of the milestone: “This is a crucial first step in Australia and New Zealand to begin a South Pacific conversation on the future of work and the 4 day week, following the advances made by companies in North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland and beyond. It’s very exciting to see these organisations demonstrating leadership by supporting their employees’ wellbeing and work-life balance while maintaining and even raising productivity.”
Professor John Quiggin of the School of Economics at the University of Queensland is one of the academics who will be tracking the success of the Australasian pilot. He welcomed the enthusiasm shown for it to date: “The 4 day working week is an idea whose time has come. Experimentation will be needed to see how best to implement a shorter working week, and the recruitment of the first 20 companies to the 4 Day Week Global Australasian pilot study is an important step towards this goal, providing valuable evidence.”
Professor John Buchanan of the University of Sydney Business School says, “In the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, Australia pioneered reductions in the length of the working day and working week. It is really exciting that we could be re-discovering a spirit of genuine innovation and social progress in this part of the world. Researchers at the Universities of Sydney and Queensland and Auckland University of Technology are partnering with the trial of the 4 day week in Australasia to ensure we learn from the best of what the pathfinders discover and avoid repeating any mistakes they make.”
Employers or employees interested in participating in the Australasian pilot can find more information here.