More than 80 per cent of the Canberrans who responded to a recent survey said they supported a four-day working week.
Revealing the survey results, the ACT Legislative Assembly’s Standing Committee on Economy and Gender and Economic Equality said its survey on opinions towards alternative options to the standard five-day work week was part of its Inquiry into the future of the working week.
“The survey was open from July to December 2022 and received just over a thousand (1,155) responses,” the Committee said.
“It questioned respondent’s attitudes towards a four-day work week, associated changes to pay and conditions, and other flexible work arrangements,” it said.
“It also collected demographic data such as age and income bracket.
“It consisted of a mix of multiple choice and free text answers,” it said.
The Committee said the response was overwhelming in favour of a shortened work week, with 86 per cent of respondents rating themselves as very supportive of a four-day work week, and 78 per cent supporting a model in which there was no change to pay or conditions.
It said just over a third of respondents (39.91 per cent) indicated they preferred the model of a four-day work week which involved fewer hours worked during the week, as opposed to a compressed four-day work week (22.86 per cent).
“Just under a third of respondents (37.23 per cent) stated they would be happy with either option,” the Committee said.
“A majority of respondents (93.42 per cent) preferred flexible working arrangements being offered in conjunction with a four-day working week.”
The Standing Committee’s 15-page report can be accessed at this PS News link.
