Exciting News, Employsure is now Peninsula. We're building a new website to make your experience even better. While we're working on it, your online experience might be across both Employsure and Peninsula sites

Client?
Call Now
  1. Home
  2. Media releases
  3. Is the 4 day work week here to stay

Is the 4-day work week here to stay?

Published September 11, 2022 (last updated on June 28, 2024) | Adam Wyatt - Content Writer

amused coworkers sit at desk in corporate space

Employers and Employees across Australia and New Zealand are eagerly awaiting the results from a six-month pilot study started in early August of a 4-day work week by not-for-profit: 4 Day Week Global. Early results from the study indicate a successful start to the trial with a spokesperson from the non-profit confirming that productivity is higher amongst participating staff.

Employment relations advice firm Peninsula, representing over 31,000 small and medium size businesses across Australia and New Zealand have been keeping a close watch on similar trials around the world and acknowledged the growing demand for the 4-day work week.

“While the 4-day work week isn’t a new idea, the pandemic has moved it from a novel thought experiment to serious consideration”, said Stephen Roebuck, Peninsula Head of Operations.

“The effects of a shortened work week cannot be understated and if applied across the board, workers would receive 50 extra days a year to do with as they please. Working parents can spend more time with their children, complete personal projects that were put on hold, or even travel. While this might seem like a win for employees, there is an expectation that productivity is maintained at a 5-day standard”, Mr. Roebuck further commented. 

Other recently completed trials of the shortened work week have also yielded similar results of little to no perceived drop in productivity among participants. 

“As with all trials, we will have to take a deeper dive into the results to decide if ultimately a change to the working week will have a net positive for both employers and employees alike. Other considerations will also need to be made. For instance, the move to remote work has had a knock-on effect for surrounding businesses. For every worker that stays home, that’s potentially one less coffee sold at the local café. While this model may work for some businesses, it’s not practical for other smaller businesses as they would require staff coverage across all 5 days”, said Mr. Roebuck. 

Peninsula indicated that it would be engaging their client base to determine if SME’s would consider changing their work-week independent of the trials results.

Latest Media Releases

Have a question?

Peninsula Logo

Not a client yet?

1300 207 182

Existing clients call (AU)

1300 651 415

Existing clients call (overseas)

+61 2 8123 3640

Peninsula HQ

Level 6/180 Thomas St, Sydney NSW 2000

Copyright © 2024 Employsure Pty Ltd. ABN 40 145 676 026

Peninsula Protect is a financial product issued by Peninsula Mutual Limited ACN 630 256 478, AFS Licence No. 544232. Peninsula Mutual Limited has appointed Peninsula Australia Pty Ltd as its Authorised Representative 001274577 to distribute the product and provide general advice. To decide if this product is right for you, please read the Peninsula Protect Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and Target Market Determination.