Medibank to trial four-day week – so when will it be a reality in SA?

Is a four-day work week top of your wishlist? After insurer Medibank revealed it would trial a four-day working week for its staff, see how close it is to a reality in SA.

Insurer Medibank has revealed it is trialling a four-day working week for its staff – and unions in South Australia are gearing up to make the concept reality here.

Medibank will partner with Macquarie University to study the trial, which will involve 250 employees.

Australian Services Union South Australia and Northern Territory secretary Abbie Spencer said they have been proposing a four-day work week in some of its current negotiations with South Australian employers.

“We’re confident that once more employers come to understand the mutual benefits, more will come on board … it can be a real win,” she said.

“Large-scale international trials tell us that it doesn’t only benefit workers by providing greater flexibility and work-life balance, business benefits too with many reporting enhanced productivity, increased revenues, as well as improved staff retention rates.”

Last month, the ASU became the first Australian union to negotiate a four-day week at full-time pay for Oxfam Australia employees in their recent enterprise bargaining agreement (EBA).

SA Unions secretary Dale Beasley said four days work week was “totally achievable”. Picture: Supplied

SA Unions secretary Dale Beasley said ASU’s victory was crucial, for not just improving work-life balance but challenging the misconception that “being present somehow equals productivity.”

“Securing better work-life balance through things like four-day weeks is not only possible, but it’s totally achievable,” he said.

Public Service Association (PSA) of SA general secretary Natasha Brown said the fate of four day work week for 40,000 of its members in South Australia will depend on members views at the time of new salaried enterprise agreement next year.

“Workplace flexibility and work/life balance are important aspects of modern life, and the PSA will advocate on behalf of members to ensure that workplaces continue to evolve and adapt to the needs of individuals and families,” Ms Brown said.

Bunnings will start a four day work week trial in store and trade centre teams South Australia and rest of the country as part of their Enterprise Agreement (EA) that will come into effect on November 13.

Chief people officer Damian Zahra said their four-day work week concept was “slightly different” to the concept some office-based workforces where employees are working fewer total hours over four days.

“We’re glad to be offering our full-time team the option of trialling rosters that’ll allow them to work their regular hours over fewer days,” Mr Zahra said.

Local government worker Sarah Cleggett said a four-day work week would help her balance work and caring commitments. Picture: Supplied

For mum Sarah Cleggett, the idea of working four days a week is no longer just an option, but a necessity.

The local government worker said a four-day work week would make it easier for her to balance work and caring commitments.

“I feel like a standard four-day work week will help to level the playing field and recognise that everyone has competing priorities and unpaid care commitments that aren’t easily juggled in a 40-hour work week,” she said.

“A four-day work week is a really great opportunity for us to be thinking about the importance of our work lives and how that fits in with the equally important task of caring whether that be for kids or for elderly parents or for other people in the community.”

The Kurralta Park woman said because there was a time where workers and employers couldn’t have imagined the 40 hour work week.

“But that’s become the norm now, four-day work week hopefully will become normal too.”

Last week, Victorian Community and Public Sector Union demanded a 20 per cent pay increase over four years, as well as the introduction of a formal pilot program for a four-day work week across various Victorian worksites.