Flexibility reigns supreme as workers swap Australia Day for another day

The country’s top companies are increasingly letting staff swap Australia Day and other public holidays for alternative days of their choice, as workplaces step up flexibility.

The country’s top companies are increasingly letting staff swap Australia Day and other public holidays for alternative days of their choice as workplaces step up flexibility.

Major companies including Atlassian and ANZ have introduced new policies this year allowing staff to work on January 26 and instead take off another day – perhaps one culturally important to them – joining Woodside, Telstra and Commonwealth Bank which already have similar measures in place.

Atlassian co-founder Scott Farquhar says companies that fail to adopt flexible working will hinder productivity and fail to reach their full potential.

Griffith University human resource management expert Professor Ruth McPhail says flexibility around public holidays has become more common since the pandemic and amid the debate about Australia Day.

“Increased workplace flexibility is becoming more mainstream and now that conversation is shifting into public holidays. Organisations are using this flexibility to attract and retain talent as we know employees are four times less likely to leave if their workplace is inclusive and flexible,” she says.

“The ability to swap days and more offer individuals more autonomy on what best suits them, their values and background demonstrates inclusivity and sends a clear message.”

Many companies say that the vast majority of staff continue to celebrate Australia Day despite having the option to work on the national day.

“Based on experience, we expect the vast majority of our people will take advantage of the Australia Day public holiday,” A Deloitte spokesman says.

“If staff have to work on Australia Day due to client commitments they are entitled to take an additional day off in lieu of their choosing.”

King & Wood Mallesons executive director of people and development Kathryn Bellion said 123 people in its 1600-strong workforce took advantage of the law firm’s policy to swap public holidays with days culturally significant to them.

ANZ’s enterprise agreement, approved last year, allows employees to swap a public holiday with another date, while Commonwealth Bank allows staff to do the same. NAB also has provisions in its EBA to swap public holidays, but it is understood that all staff excluding business-critical teams will take Australia Day off.

Woolworths, which has come under controversy for its decision to not sell Australia Day products, allows team members at stores to work on the public holiday if they are rostered on. All teams in support offices will take the public holiday. Coles did not respond to requests for comment.

Kmart and Target staff can work on public holidays if they opt to, while Bunnings, which is also owned by Wesfarmers, has no official policy for its office-based staff, but its store team can substitute public holidays.

Woodside rolled out flexible public holidays globally last year after it undertook a trial in January 2022 for its non-rostered staff. This year is the second time Telstra staff can swap Australia Day. Former chairman John Mullen told shareholders at the company’s annual meeting in October that the policy in its EBA was “overwhelmingly” supported by staff. Optus declined to comment what its policy was.

Qantas will treat Australia Day as most other days, with most of its staff employed in operational roles (cabin crew, pilots, engineers etc.) and required to work on public holidays.

The major accounting firms all offer flexible public holidays. KPMG will have its office open this Australia Day, but its cultural policy allows staff to swap two public holidays a year for religious and significant cultural events, but not personal reasons. Deloitte introduced its own cultural policy in 2022, while EY and PwC have had measures in place for several years.

PwC Australia said Australia Day was complex for many and it encouraged staff to listen, learn and respect the voices of First Nations people.

“While Australians will mark the date as they and their families see fit, what’s most important is that we are respectful and understanding of one another,” a spokesman said.

Professor McPhail said that the shift was allowing individuals to decide what was best for their owns needs.

“We are a 24/7 society nowadays and there is an expectation that we have accessibility all the time and that should mean we are open to additional flexibility,” she said. “It doesn’t matter what holiday there is, there is always someone working, and in a way the additional flexibility provides us with the ability to support those people who are celebrating and offer options to others.”

ANZ’s latest policy has outlined an official policy regarding swapping public holidays Picture: NCA NewsWire / John Gass

The Aussie flag projected on the opera house during Australia Day celebrations live at the Quay, Circular Quay. Sydney. 26th January, 2020. Picture by Damian Shaw

Originally published as Flexibility reigns supreme as workers swap Australia Day for another day