‘Fed up and burnt out’: Greens and unions push for four-day work week at government roundtable
A nationwide push for a four-day work week is gaining steam as unions and the Greens team up to demand shorter hours with no loss of pay.


News.com.au
August 13, 2025

Unions are calling for a major rethink of working hours amid rising burnout and stagnant productivity, but one minister warns the proposal may be little more than “gaslighting” workers.

The Australian Greens have thrown their support behind the Australian Council of Trade Unions’ (ACTU) call for shorter working weeks with no loss of pay, urging the federal government to place the issue at the forefront of next week’s Economic Reform Roundtable.   

The ACTU will propose that Australia move towards a four-day work week where appropriate while also adopting sector-specific alternatives where a full reduction isn’t possible.

These alternatives could include more rostered days off, increased annual leave or redesigned rosters that improve predictability, job security and work-life balance.

Pay and conditions, such as penalty rates, overtime, and minimum staffing levels, would be protected to ensure workers do not lose income as a result.

The Greens and ACTU are pushing for shorter hours as businesses caution against rushing reforms.   

The unions argue that workers deserve to benefit from productivity gains and technological advances that have so far disproportionately favoured corporate profits over wages.

ACTU president Michele O’Neil highlighted the benefits of shorter working hours for both workers and employers, explaining they lead to improved productivity and enable people to live “happier, healthier, and more balanced lives”.

“Unions want all Australians to benefit from higher productivity, not just those with money and power,” Ms O’Neil said.

“Productivity growth does not automatically translate to higher living standards. If that were the case over the past 25 years, the average worker today would be around $350 a week better off.


“For workers in some sectors, shorter working hours can be delivered through moving to a four-day work week. For other people, this could be achieved through other ways, such as more time off or fairer rosters.”

Four-day work week trials show promising results in improving health and productivity.

Ms O’Neil argued that in the age of AI, a fair approach means lifting living standards for everyone, rather than “boosting corporate profits and executive bonuses”.   

The ACTU’s campaign is backed by growing evidence. A peer-reviewed study published recently in Nature Human Behaviour found that a four-day work week boosted performance, reduced burnout, and improved employee health and retention.

The study examined nearly 3000 employees across 141 organisations in Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Canada, the UK, and the US.

Trials both here and overseas have shown that well-planned four-day week implementations, where workers participate in redesigning workflows, can deliver significant productivity benefits.

A 2023 Swinburne University study of 10 Australian companies trialling the four-day week found that productivity rose at 70 per cent of the firms and remained stable at the others.

The Australian Greens have welcomed the ACTU’s calls for shorter working weeks with the same pay, urging the government to prioritise the issue at its upcoming productivity roundtable.

Greens senator Barbara Pocock pointed out that in recent decades, the profit share of GDP has grown while workers’ share has steadily declined, explaining that workers are “fed up and burnt out”.

“They’ve done unpaid overtime, suffered real wage cuts, and face an expectation of constant connection with their workplace,” Ms Pocock said.

“It’s time for the workers to get their fair share.”

Ms Pocock added that shorter work weeks helped reduce absenteeism, improved recruitment and retention and gave workers more time to balance their lives.

She said Australia had already made advances in flexible working and remote work, making a four-day week the logical next step.

Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations Amanda Rishworth and Treasurer Jim Chalmers said new workplace flexibility initiatives were being discussed.

Speaking at a press conference with Treasurer Jim Chalmers, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations Amanda Rishworth highlighted that many ideas were being discussed to improve workplace flexibility.

“I know the Treasurer, as long as myself and many other ministers have welcomed those ideas.

More green eggs and ham economics.

“Shorter work weeks increase productivity, reduce absenteeism, improve recruitment ..."

Yep, sure do.

Bobby. wrote on Aug 13^th, 2025 at 3:20pm:



you base that on your extensive knowledge of 4 day work week do you? Or are  you just guessing?

Trials have shown it does in fact work.

Quote:

John Smith wrote on Aug 13^th, 2025 at 4:44pm:



I've seen it with my own eyes.
Sacking workers when they are already 3 months behind in their workload.
Then they are soon 6 months behind.

Next thing they remove the least profitable part of their business to try and fix it.
Close down part of the business.
Then they sack more workers.