Do Aussies really want to join the global four-day work week trend?

Aussies are showing interest in adopting a four-day work week, with companies trialling it, and unions successfully negotiating it as a condition for workers.

Signs that Aussies are keen to join a global trend towards a four-day work week are becoming abundant as businesses trial the set-up and unions negotiate it as a condition for workers.

In February, the global results dropped for the biggest ever four-day week trial, finding that most companies saw their business performance and productivity remained high.

The most extensive ever four-day week pilot run by a partnership between 4 Day Week Global, think tank Autonomy, the 4 Day Week Campaign, researchers at the University of Cambridge and Boston College found a whopping 92 per cent elected to stick with the initiative post-trial.

The six-month trial ranged from small businesses like fish and chip shops to large corporations and it canvassed thousands of workers.

Signs show that Australians are interested in exploring the four-day work week. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw

Employees saw their working week reduced from five days to four, with no loss of pay.

Workers reported improvements regarding a raft of personal stresses, including fatigue and anxiety.

Bosses were happy too, with the results showing most companies increased their performance and productivity while revenue rose 1.4 per cent on average across businesses.

In Australia, companies have kicked off trials of their own.

The ABC reported this week a regional Victorian law firm was among a number of organisations to try out the four-day work week.

The firm’s leaders told the public broadcaster it hoped the arrangement would help attract and retain good talent.

A recent global trial showed that most companies maintained high business performance and productivity with a four-day work week.

A month into the six-month trial, Cosgriff Lawyers in Echuca was optimistic about the change.

Company director Skye Engwerda hoped it would fill critical gaps in the workplace environment.

“It’s about coming up with new ideas to build culture and create flexibility,” she told the ABC.

Unions across Australia have also been pushing for the work arrangement in recent weeks, with some success.

Australian companies, including a law firm in Victoria, have begun their own trials of the four-day work week. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Swift

Last week, a peak Victorian public sector union lodged a hefty new pay claim demanding a 20 per cent wage hike, a four-day work week, an extra week’s holiday and 17 per cent super.

The Community and Public Sector Union wants a new enterprise agreement for the Victorian Public Service.

Their proposal includes a 2 per cent pay increase over four years and a formal pilot program for a four-day work week across different worksites.

Unions across Australia are pushing for the work arrangement, with some success in negotiations with employers. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Simon Bullard

In South Australia, unions are keen to see the four-day work week turn from concept to reality.

Australian Services Union South Australia and Northern Territory secretary Abbie Spencer said it is proposing a four-day work week in some of the union’s current negotiations with 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 told the Advertiser.

“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 Australian Services Union (ASU) successfully negotiated a four-day work week with full-time pay for Oxfam Australia employees in their latest EBA.